The History of American Literature on Film
From William Dickson's Rip Van Winkle films (1896) to Baz Luhrmann's big-budget production of The Great Gatsby (2013) and beyond, cinematic adaptations of American literature participate in a rich and fascinating history. Unlike previous studies of American literature and film, which emphasize particular authors like Edith Wharton and Nathaniel Hawthorne, particular texts like Moby-Dick, particular literary periods like the American Renaissance, or particular genres like the novel, this volume considers the multiple functions of filmed American literature as a cinematic genre in its own right-one that reflects the specific political and aesthetic priorities of different national and historical cinemas even as it plays a decisive role in defining American literature for a global audience.
Steampunk Film
Steampunk Film: A Critical Introduction is a concise and accessible overview of steampunk's indelible impact within film, and acts as a case study for examining the ways with which genres hybridize and coalesce into new forms. Since the beginning of the 21st century, a series of high-profile and big-budget films have adopted steampunk identities to re-imagine periods of industrial development into fantastical histories where future meets past. By calling this growing mass-cultural fetishism for anachronistic machines into question, this book examines how a retro-futuristic romanticism for technology powered by cogs, pistons and steam-engines has taken center stage in blockbuster cinema. As the first monograph to consider cinema's unique relationship with steampunk, it places this burgeoning genre in the context of ongoing debates within film theory: each of which reflecting the movement's remarkable interest in reengineering historical technologies. Rather than acting as a niche subculture, Robbie McAllister argues that steampunk's proliferation in mainstream filmmaking reflects a desire to reassess contemporary relationships with technology and navigate the intense changes that the medium itself is experiencing in the 21st century.
Mina Perhonen: Ripples
The first large format book on the house of Mina Perhonen, one of the most profoundly Japanese of the women's lines to come out of the Tokyo in the last three decades. A unique blend of Scandinavian sensibility and Japanese, Mina Perhonen is characterized by a tenacious individuality that often contradicts the prevailing trends in Japanese high fashion with its emphasis on unmistakably feminine silhouettes and bright, minimalistic prints that have as much in common with the work of Alvar Aalto and Marimekko as they do with traditional Japanese design. This thoughtfully designed volume gathers the most iconic work outputted by the fashion house in the last twenty years, highlighting the rich and witty world of Mina Perhonen. A combination of new and archival photography as well as a collection of the illustrations showcase Minagawa's subtle approach to design while critical essays by Issey Miyake and Susan Brown offer insightful commentary about Minagawa's work.
Ed Fox II
Ed Fox thought he was the only young man who checked out a woman's feet before her face, and most of the time couldn't meet his models' eyes for fear they'd discern his secret. Then he became the official foot photographer for Leg Show magazine, and learned of the thousands of men just like him and the glorious legacy of foot fetish photographers before him, not least the great Elmer Batters.Since then, Fox has become famed the world over for his sensual photographic style that captures every curve of a woman's body, right down to the tips of her toes. In Ed Fox II he brings us voluptuous new models, arresting locations--many blending the desert landscapes of Southern California with Fox's passion for automobiles--and fantasies mild to extra spicy, all shot in warm, caressing natural light. And, like Glamour From the Ground Up, Ed Fox II comes with a 60-minute original DVD, bringing the still photos to vibrant life.This edition's special Panic Cover is reversible to a realistic-looking academic book to keep the real contents hidden from prying eyes, or even to help you impress an attractive onlooker!
Amateur Astrophotography - Collection 1
"Amateur Astrophotography - Collection 1" invites readers on an awe-inspiring journey through the universe, offering a glimpse into the mysteries and wonders of the night sky through the eyes of an amateur astronomer and photographer. Athanasios's dedication to preserving and sharing the beauty of the cosmos shines through every page, making this book a must-have for both novice stargazers and seasoned enthusiasts.Join Athanasios Politis on his celestial odyssey through the pages of "Amateur Astrophotography - Collection 1", where the universe comes alive in vivid detail, bridging the gap between Earth and the cosmos.
Seeds of Change
Seeds of Change" is a deeply moving historical narrative set against the backdrop of a changing America, from the Great Depression through World War II and into the postwar era. The story follows Margaret, a dedicated teacher whose quiet, enduring efforts in the classroom transform the lives of her students. Central to the story is Jimmy Doyle, a young boy growing up in Chicago during the Great Depression. Despite the hardships he faces, Jimmy's life is deeply shaped by Margaret's teachings of resilience, community, and civic duty. As he matures, these lessons guide him through the challenges of factory work during WWII and into the postwar world.Margaret's influence stretches far beyond the classroom, touching not only Jimmy but also a generation of students whose lives she helps shape with empathy, wisdom, and a belief in the transformative power of education. The narrative is rich with historical detail, capturing the struggles of the Depression, the war years, and the societal changes of mid-20th century America. The book underscores the importance of individual courage and the lasting impact of education as a seed for societal change. In this poignant exploration of personal growth, community, and perseverance, "Seeds of Change" emphasizes how the smallest acts of kindness and teaching can reverberate through generations, leaving a legacy of hope and transformation.
Raoul Hausmann: Vision. Provocation. Dada.
A spectacular appraisal of one of the most innovative avant-garde artists of the Dada sceneAustrian artist Raoul Hausmann (1886-1971) defied conventions throughout his life. As a Dadaist he was among those who invented collage and was a pioneer of photomontage. His credo--being "recklessly sincere" in both art and life--made him a pioneering multimedia artist and a sharp-tongued critic of society. Now, his visionary work can be experienced in its full breadth. With around 270 illustrations, this catalog accompanying the retrospective at the Berlinische Galerie traces Hausmann's artistic journey, from his early Expressionist works and the highlights of his Berlin Dada years to his photography exploring fashion, dance and literature, as well as his lesser-known exile period. In 14 essays, international experts from the fields of art and literary history, media studies and psychoanalysis delve into Hausmann's multifaceted oeuvre, offering a rich and timely perspective on his astonishingly relevant body of work.
An Artist's Guide to Drawing Clothed Characters
In this follow-up to the acclaimed Anatomy for Artists: Drawing Form & Pose (over 30,000 copies sold to date), figure-drawing maestro Tom Fox takes a deep dive into the subjects of clothing and drapery. Using his unique approach of simplified mannequins and dynamic figure sketches, Tom shares his process for improving your figures holistically, understanding fabric physics, and capturing the fold, stretch, and crumple of believable clothing.With over 300 pages packed with Tom's engaging drawings and accessible instruction, Drawing Clothed Characters is a perfect companion to Drawing Form & Pose, as well as an invaluable standalone resource in its own right.Available alongside this book is a companion publication called Workbook: Drawing Clothed Characters, which features 200 pages of accessible instructions and figures to draw over on the pages, allowing the reader to practise the theory put forth in this main book.
The Music of the Spheres
Is there a harmony between heaven and earth? Are we connected with the planets?Since the dawn of time, mystics have talked of a heavenly music, audible only on a subtle level. Until recently, the theme of The Music of the Spheres was taken seriously in many cultures and religions around the world, and even in music theory. And yet now it has become mute. Or perhaps we have become deaf.Can we learn how to hear this heavenly music again?This book begins by looking at the Music of the Spheres throughout history, and how paradigm shifts in consciousness, from mysticism to materialism, have reduced the Music of the Spheres to a fanciful myth. But we will not allow this sound to become a myth so easily. We will instead fine-tune our listening, exploring physical sound, soul sound and the highly subtle spirit-sound. A deeper understanding of the quality of number will then prepare us to internalise and spiritualise the musical intervals found in Pythagoras' and Kepler's Music of the Spheres. Finally, a future initiation path of Listening is suggested and described.Through personal anecdotes, listening exercises and philosophical inquiry, based mainly on Rudolf Steiner's Anthroposophy, Paul Lawrence explores this subtle sound in an exciting and masterly way. Your appreciation for music and its significance for human and world development will not be the same after reading this inspiring book.
The Garden Of Hours
The Garden of Hours is an entirely imaginary grimoire, a fantastical garden that exists only in the space between day and night, dreamed into being by fairies, witches, and wandering spirits. Within its pages are forty magical hours, each devoted to a singular, otherworldly flower-some rooted in imagination, others whispered into existence by the unseen. Illustrated in the style of 14th-century illuminated manuscripts, the book blends botanical wonder with mystical elements, cryptic marginalia, and alchemical symbols. Every hour tells a story, recorded by imagined alchemists, warlocks, and herbalist witches, revealing secrets of time, nature, and the fantastical. The Garden of Hours invites yor curiosity to wander among luminous petals, glowing dew, whispering leaves, and ethereal blooms, offering a glimpse into a world where the ordinary is entirely transformed by imagination, and every flower holds a secret known only to the dreamer.
The Building Detective
What stories do buildings tell? The Building Detective uncovers the secrets from the hidden world of buildings. Dive below the surface to unearth captivating case studies and personal experiences that reveal how buildings reflect ingenuity, expose failures, and shape the lives of those who live and work within them. Journey into the mysteries and lessons of the built environment with this fresh perspective on the spaces we inhabit and change how you see the built world forever.Buildings are everywhere. We live in them, work in them, shop in them, and walk past them without a second thought. But beneath their surfaces, behind walls, beneath floors, and inside ceilings, buildings carry stories, mysteries, and lessons. Some are tales of brilliance and innovation, while others are cautionary reminders of what happens when things go wrong.When I began my career as a Chartered Building Surveyor, I didn't expect to be piecing together puzzles like a detective. I thought I'd spend my days inspecting properties, ticking off compliance boxes, and writing reports. What I discovered was something far more compelling: every building holds a narrative, a blend of engineering, architecture, history, and human decisions that shape how it performs, fails, or thrives.This book is not a textbook. It's a journey. Part memoir, part exploration of the property industry, and part practical guide to understanding the built environment. Although this book finds it home in Australia, and that is its primary context, it contains stories about buildings from around the world. Through the lens of my own experiences, I'll take you behind the scenes of real-world investigations and industry dilemmas, uncovering hidden defects while weaving in the human stories that underpin every structure.You'll discover how ODEC, a codified approach to the scientific method, helps solve not just building problems but any problem. From high-profile building failures of the 2010s to tales from remote inspections in the Australian outback, you'll see how the decisions we make about our buildings affect not only their performance but also the people who live and work within them.This book doesn't aim to catalogue every possible building problem (there are detailed textbooks for that). Instead, it's about curiosity. It's an invitation to look beyond surfaces and think critically about the spaces we inhabit and their context for generations to come. Whether you're a property professional, a homeowner, or simply someone who's ever wondered why water is coming into your home when it shouldn't, I hope you'll find insights, a new way of seeing the built world, and a renewed appreciation for inquisitiveness.
Candida
In the bustling parsonage of Reverend James Morell, a Christian Socialist, his idyllic life with his devoted wife, Candida, encounters a disruption when the young, passionate poet, Eugene Marchbanks, arrives, unveiling an intense, hidden attraction for her.This intimate story probes the essence of love, marriage, and loyalty, as Candida finds herself the object of a subtle yet profound choice between the unwavering stability of her husband and the fervent admiration of the poet, each man offering her his own definition of love.
Karma's Here
With Karma fighting for her life against the serum Phoenix Corps injected her with, Ridge will do anything to keep her and their found family safe-even if it means leaving Fairway forever.But Karma made a vow. Phoenix Corps destroyed her world, experimented on her body, and threatened everyone she loves. She won't run. Not when the job isn't finished.Blowing up the loading docks bought them time, but now Phoenix Corps is hunting them with everything they've got. Staying means death. Leaving means Phoenix Corps wins.Then they learn about records hidden deep inside the corporation-evidence that could bring down the entire operation. The source? A former Phoenix Corps employee claims he wants to help. He's got a plan and needs her to get him and his team inside, and back out again.It sounds too good to be true.As Karma recovers her strength, she knows this is their shot. One last infiltration to end Phoenix Corps forever. But in a world where survival means trusting no one, how do you tell the difference between an ally and a trap?Some promises are worth the risk. The question is: who else is willing to die to keep them?
Tartuffe
"Beauty without intelligence is like a hook without bait." Jean Baptiste Poquelin, better known by his stage name of Moliere, is considered to be, without a doubt, at the head of French comedy. Renowned for his satirical works, Moli癡re delighted in exposing the vices and foibles of the day, mercilessly lampooning the social pretensions and conceits of 17th-century French society. This talent is exhibited nowhere better, than in Tartuffe, a 1664 verse comedy with serious overtones, Tartuffe, is a penniless scoundrel and religious imposter, who is invited by a gullible benefactor to live in his home. Tartuffe wreaks havoc when he imposes a rigidly puritanical regimen on the formerly happy household, breaking off the daughter's engagement, attempting to seduce the wife of his host, and resorting to blackmail and extortion. Ultimately, his schemes and malicious deeds lead to his own downfall. This timeless comedy with its biting satire, witty dialogue and irreverent staging, have made Moliere one of France's greatest and most influential playwrights for over four centuries. Tartuffe is essential reading for students of theater and those who enjoy great literature.
A Simple Twist of Chocolate
Synopsis: A Simple Twist of ChocolateBased on true events. Book One of The Chocolate Syndicate.There is more to chocolate than sweetness-it binds us to ancient memory and the invisible roots of longing, loss, and love.In A Simple Twist of Chocolate, a seemingly chance encounter between two strangers on an international flight begins to unravel a tale that spans continents, generations, and the hidden legacy of cacao. Ariel, an introspective consultant returning from India with the ashes of a friend, crosses paths with Damion, a curious and charming fellow passenger. As their conversation deepens, Ariel begins to share a story-her story-interwoven with mystery, romance, danger, and an obsession that has haunted her for decades: the search for a mythical cacao once thought to be lost.What begins as a covert assignment for a private investigative firm leads Ariel into the jungles of Central and South America, where a legendary strain of cacao-an aphrodisiac and ancient sacrament-is rumored to survive. But this hunt is not hers alone. Years earlier, Edward Burke, a power-driven businessman, discovered the intoxicating potential of this elusive chocolate, triggering a chain of betrayals, disappearances, and secrets carefully buried.Ariel's own origin is steeped in shadow. Born of a secret affair and given up for adoption under pressure, she unknowingly carries within her the thread that connects all players in the unfolding drama. A single envelope of cocoa beans, hidden beneath the Oregon soil in childhood, silently links her to a legacy of mysticism, exploitation, and buried love.As Ariel's sabbatical from consulting becomes a deep dive into the spiritual and scientific mysteries of chocolate, she comes to realize that her life is not a coincidence-it's a confluence. The story reveals a network of seekers-each driven by the belief that chocolate, in its purest form, is not merely food, but a medium to the divine.From the windswept coastlines of Oregon to the sacred fires of Varanasi, from high-level political blackmail to backwoods ritual, A Simple Twist of Chocolate is a story of rediscovery-of hidden truths, lost family, and a power that tastes like heaven but may cost the soul.
Kisses From A Killer
The Kisses Series is a dark, emotionally charged crime-thriller saga that follows Detectives Myrna Watkis and Dessa Simms through a sequence of murder cases tied together by chilling symbolism and long-buried secrets. Each installment features a standalone investigation, but beneath every case runs a deeper narrative thread: the legacy of violence, the power of memory, and how trauma shapes the choices people make. The "kiss" motif, from chocolate wrappers to metaphorical marks left on victims, acts as the signature that links these crimes across the years, revealing that nothing in these cases is random. As the detectives peel back layers of evidence, they confront their own shadows, dangerous pasts, and the thin line between justice and vengeance. Book 1: Kisses From a Killer introduces the detectives and the first case. Book 2: Kisses From the Dead expands the world and the consequences of the past.
The Little Graphic Design Book
This pocket guide offers clear, practical references for graphic designers, students, and print professionals. It includes key terms, charts, and quick guides on typography, color, layout, printing, and digital production-everything needed to support confident and efficient design work.
The Housemaid (2025)
Behind the pristine walls of a beautiful home, something is deeply wrong-and The Housemaid (2025) refuses to let you look away. This gripping nonfiction deep dive pulls back the curtain on one of the most unsettling psychological thrillers of the decade, revealing the hidden mechanisms of control, manipulation, and power that drive the film long after its final scene. Far beyond a simple plot breakdown, this book examines the dark psychology beneath the smiles, the silent rules governing the household, and the slow-burn terror that makes The Housemaid linger in the mind. Through sharp analysis and cultural insight, you'll explore how the film fits into a 30-year lineage of domestic thrillers, why female rage has become one of the most resonant forces in modern storytelling, and how fear operates without violence-through gaslighting, class imbalance, and credibility gaps. Each chapter dissects the characters played by Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, and Elizabeth Perkins, uncovering how performance, silence, and power collide to create an atmosphere of constant unease. This book doesn't just ask what happens in The Housemaid. It asks why it feels so familiar-and why that familiarity is terrifying. By tracing the film's psychological undercurrents and cultural context from the 1990s through 2025, it reveals how domestic spaces become battlegrounds, how identity fractures under pressure, and how survival often demands restraint rather than rebellion. Whether you are a fan of psychological thrillers, a student of film and culture, or a reader drawn to stories about power, control, and hidden truths, this book offers a deeper way to experience The Housemaid-one that sharpens your understanding and challenges your assumptions. If the film unsettled you, this book will explain why. If it stayed with you, this book will take you further. Read it now-and see what the house was really hiding.
Holiday Plays for Cultures Worldwide
Holiday Plays for Cultures Worldwide gathers a vibrant selection of family-friendly one-act scripts, each celebrating holiday traditions from Western and Eastern cultures. Under the editorial guidance of American playwright Danah Lassiter, the book showcases diverse voices from around the world, each offering a unique lens on celebration while sharing universal themes of joy, togetherness, and tradition. With small casts of six characters or less, these imaginative shorts are ideally suited for small theatre troupes, classrooms, and community programs eager to honor cultural diversity on stage.Selected from hundreds of submissions to Kinsman Quarterly's global playwriting contest, these scripts were chosen by a dedicated review team for their originality, cultural richness, and performance-ready appeal. The collection proudly features the Grand Prize winner, Russell Nichols, alongside runner-ups Maya De La Torre and Melanie Payne, whose works anchor this anthology with exceptional storytelling and memorable characters. Whether for a school performance, community events, or intimate theatre production, Holiday Plays for Cultures Worldwide invites audiences to experience the beauty of holidays that connect us all.
Introduction to Textile Design
The book provides a comprehensive understanding of the vast and creative world of textiles. It begins with the basic concepts of textile and fabric design, exploring the types of fibres and fabrics used across the world. The text then delves into the rich traditions of Indian textiles, tracing their evolution from ancient handlooms to modern industrial processes. Readers are introduced to the art and science of weaving, including its techniques, machinery, and the role of the Industrial Revolution in transforming textile production. The chapters on weaving design composition, rugs, and carpet weaving highlight both traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation. The book also covers decorative textile arts such as fabric painting, stencil and block printing, batik art, embroidery, and tie-dye, celebrating the cultural diversity and artistry embedded in these practices. Further, it explains colour theory, design principles, and modern digital tools and software used in textile design today. A special focus is given to the textile industry in India, its economic significance, and the role of textile designers in shaping contemporary fashion and interiors. The concluding chapters list top institutes in India and abroad that offer professional courses in textile design, serving as a guide for aspiring designers. Overall, this book is an essential resource for students, educators, and professionals in textile design-combining theory, tradition, creativity, and technology in one comprehensive volume.
Sunsets from the Hart
Artist Debra Young has been intrigued with sunsets ever since she was a youngster.But she wondered how to save them . . . . how to share their visual beauty.The answer: she decided to photograph them. Over the years, Debra carefully captured hundreds of interesting and exciting sunsets. Herewith, then, are whatDebra Young calls the cr癡me de la cr癡me of visual pleasure. Sixty stunning sunsets! As you leaf through these pages, we're sure you'll agree: every sunset is unique!
Opera Theme Plot
This book is a comprehensive guide to operas. Whether you are a novice or an experienced musician, Fellner's book serves as an indispensable resource. Basic musical and dramatic materials accompany vocal scores of operas from the repertoire of great opera houses. With rich summaries, Fellner gives readers a rich overview of the world of Opera.
Woven Bliss
The unnerving character of Hazel appears to turn the lives of Jacqueline and Jason upside down... No one could foresee the outcome.... This Woven Bliss, they surrounded themselves with was about to crumble....Will they be able to get back to normal and sustain their loving relationship they once had, or will the hauntings of Hazel prevent that... Will they survive.... The hurdles of Hazel's obsession... become infectious as she tries to cling to her desired ownership....As the tides of time that bind together, the memories of those gone still sit there... Their presence will not be forgotten... For the joy and pain that come together, it's the joy that finally wins through, it has the strength to.... This third novel captures the very essence of tragedy but will the Gibson family recover from such tragedies, and its bereaved presence to a new light, a new way of life....
Axis of Heaven
At sunrise, light slips through a temple doorway, striking stone with uncanny precision. Across continents, from pyramids in Egypt to circles in Britain and cities in Asia, builders aligned monuments with the heavens. This book asks the deeper question: why did so many civilisations embed sacred geometry into their most enduring works-and what does that reveal about human meaning? Far from being mere superstition, these designs united science, myth, and power. Readers will journey through the pyramid mysteries, the alignments of megalithic sites, and the cosmic grids of ancient cities, discovering how architecture became both map and prayer. They will encounter the blurred line between ritual and measurement, exploring how astronomy and temples shaped agriculture, kingship, and community life. At each step, striking case studies and cultural debates bring the stones alive, showing how the human urge to link earth with sky has never vanished. This book is written for curious readers who crave both wonder and clarity-those who seek more than surface-level tales of lost civilisations. It offers a fresh lens on ancient cosmology, one that challenges assumptions and connects past design to present questions of orientation, meaning, and memory. By the end, readers will see how sky and stone monuments are not relics of a vanished world, but keys to understanding our ongoing search for order. Whether drawn by history, architecture, or the enduring meaning of sacred geometry, they will find here a guide to how humanity once built with the stars-and why it matters still.
One Per Cent Luck -
He was a 10 year old boy who lived a happy, carefree life in a real, honest-to-goodness castle in Czechoslovakia. One morning, on his way to school with his sister, Milu, they saw Hitler's tanks, guns and soldiers parading in the streets, and everything changed forever.In the months and years to come, Fred Sirotek remembers the terror of the Nazis barging with guns and bayonets into their home late at night in search of his Catholic father, who risked his and his family's lives to help his Jewish employees and friends.When WW II was over, the family's struggles began anew with the Communist takeover of their country. One night the family made a dramatic escape across the border to Germany. Eventually they landed in Canada and started the slow business of building a life. Fred began a business that went on to become one of the premier construction and land-holding companies in Ottawa.He attributes much of his success to luck-but only a very little bit. "Just about one per cent is all you need", he says, "as long as it comes at the right time."
100 Movies of the 1960s
Positioned precariously between the uptight '50s and the freewheeling '70s, the 1960s marked a transitional decade in the film industry. As art, mass market, and pop culture merged and collided in true pop art style, cinema swirled with psychedelic energy. This handbook gathers the best films of the era, exploring the making and the mastery of such cinematic star turns as The Leopard, The Birds, Belle de Jour, A Fistful of Dollars, and Doctor Zhivago.With audiences ever more glued to their TV sets and the loosened rules about what was "permissible" in cinema with the abolition of the Production Code, filmmakers embraced the freedom to explore the possibilities of film as an art form. As was often the case, the Europeans led the way, the French with Nouvelle Vague directors like Godard and Truffaut, and the Italians with such innovative films as Fellini's 8 1/2 and Antonioni's Eclipse.By the mid-'60s the United States also began to exercise greater creative liberties, especially in films from young underground directors such as Russ Meyer, John Frankenheimer, and Sam Peckinpah. Meanwhile, Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music ushered out the grandiose Hollywood musical era with a bang while the Spaghetti Western became an instant phenomenon, and Kubrick set new standards for sci-fi with 2001: A Space Odyssey.Though the term "feminism" may not have been ready for prime time, the decade was also one of major advances in female characterization. From Jane Fonda's Barbarella to Holly Golightly of Breakfast at Tiffany's to Bonnie Parker of Bonnie and Clyde, it was the 1960s that saw women on-screen graduate from decorative accessories to complex, kick-ass personas.
Shadowplayers
A revised and expanded edition of the long out-of-print history of Factory Records, the legendary record label that launched Joy Division, New Order, and Happy Mondays. Featuring a foreword by Jon Savage. "Definitive and comprehensive, this is the actual story of Factory Records" --Peter Saville In 1978, a "Factory for Sale" sign gave Alan Erasmus and Tony Wilson a name for their fledgling Manchester club night. Though they couldn't have known it at the time, this was the launch of one of the most significant musical and cultural legacies of the late twentieth century. The club's electrifying live scene soon translated to vinyl, and Factory Records went on to become the most innovative and celebrated record label of the next thirty years. Always breaking new musical ground, Factory introduced the listening public to bands such as Joy Division, whose Unknown Pleasures was the label's first album release, New Order, Durutti Column and Happy Mondays. Propelled onwards by the inspirational cultural entrepreneur, Tony Wilson, Factory always sought new ways to energise the popular consciousness. Now fully revised and expanded with a new chapter, Shadowplayers is the most complete, authoritative and thoroughly researched account of how a group of provincial anarchists and entrepreneurs saw off bankers, journalists and gun-toting gangsters to create the most influential record label of modern times. Based on both archive and contemporary sources, the book tells the full story of Factory's heroic struggles, its complex web of inventive, idiosyncratic and tragic personalities, and ultimately, the acclaimed and much-loved music it produced.
Aces Back to Back
Aces Back to Back: The History of the Grateful Dead (1965 - 2025) Aces Back to Back: The History of the Grateful Dead (1965 - 2025) details the Grateful Dead's entire 60-year history - through November 2025 - including the development of Dead & Company and the Wolf Bros, making it the most detailed, precise, interesting and up-to-date account of the Dead's history ever written. Aces Back to Back covers the events and chronology leading to the band's inception as well as their complete 30-year reign and is the only book that recounts the entire post-Garcia period - from the sad passing of Jerry in 1995 through the various band incarnations that followed: the Other Ones, the Dead, RatDog, Phil Lesh and Friends, the Mickey Hart Band, Billy and the Kids, Furthur, Dead & Company, the Phil and Bob duo, and the Wolf Bros. My biography features a Foreword from renowned Grateful Dead lyricist John Perry Barlow. The cover is drawn by acclaimed poster artist Steve Johannsen (Grateful Dead, Furthur, Gov't Mule) and the interior features 20 original illustrations by Steve and Lauren Kroutil. Aces Back to Back traces the group's history from their earliest roots (Jerry and Hunter's spring 1961 road trip) and takes the reader right up to November 2025. Every vital moment in the Dead's history is covered: the Acid Tests, the Haight-Ashbury, Woodstock, the Wall of Sound, Watkins Glen, the May 8, 1977 show at Cornell, the Egypt concerts, In the Dark, Deadheads, all 13 studio albums, and the 60th anniversary celebratory concerts by Dead & Co. in the Polo Field. Every key player is here, too: Neal Cassady, Jack Kerouac, Ken Kesey, the Merry Pranksters, Robert Hunter, John Barlow, Bill Graham, Rick Griffin, Mouse & Kelley, the Mime Troupe, Albert Hofmann, the Family Dog, Winterland Arena, Augustus Owsley Stanley III, Steve Parish, Ramrod, Betty Cantor-Jackson, Wavy Gravy, and Dan Healy. Scott W. Allen wrote for Relix magazine from 1983 until 1992, serving as a Senior Writer, columnist ("Fragments"), and feature article writer. He is a veteran of nearly 250 Grateful Dead concerts, and taught and coached on the high school and college levels for 30 years. Scott was commissioned by the Library of Congress to write the essay that accompanies the enshrinement of the Grateful Dead's show on May 8, 1977 at Barton Hall into the National Recording Registry. "This book is a gift ... it is from Scott Allen, an utterly shameless Deadhead, to the community he has loved for a long time." - John Perry Barlow, Grateful Dead
The Folk River - Memories from the Early Scottish Folk Club Scene
The folk club scene did not really take off until the 1960s. In fact, in 1960 there were only four folk clubs in Scotland, the oldest of them only two years old. Ten years later there was one in practically every town of any size, several in the cities. This was the same story throughout the United Kingdom.The folk scene grew in parallel with technology. National television coverage, recording techniques and affordable transport brought the music into many homes and allowed both performers and audiences to travel more around the clubs and festivals to hear the folk music of the day. In 2019 two of my friends that I had known since I was a young lad at school passed away. They were both beneficiaries of Norman Buchan's hugely influential Ballads Club at Rutherglen Academy, as was I. We had been introduced to folk music in our teens and it stayed with us all of our lives.
Thinking Twice
Photo essays of unsettling beauty, ethics, and perception.Thinking Twice is a photographic exploration by Phyllis Crowley that transforms the ordinary and often unsettling realities of food markets around the world into meditations on beauty, mortality, and culture. Shot across Mexico, Vietnam, Spain, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Italy, and the United States, the series captures meat, fish, and other market fare in vivid, painterly compositions that blur the boundary between attraction and aversion.Accompanied by essays from art critic Zachary Fine ("The Unlikely Sublime") and artist-curator Deborah Hesse ("Epilogue"), the book situates Crowley's photographs within a lineage of artists who confront the ethics and aesthetics of consumption. Fine argues that Crowley overturns Kant's notion that disgust destroys beauty-her lens transforms repulsion into wonder-while Hesse highlights the ecological and moral questions embedded in our food systems.Crowley's accompanying text, Thoughts on the Thinking Twice Series, traces her fascination with food markets since her first encounter in Mexico in 2009, where glistening sheets of meat and seafood hung like tapestries in the light. Her work reveals a tension between reverence for life and acknowledgment of death, between cultural ritual and individual discomfort.Published by OctoberWorks and designed by Jeanne Criscola, Thinking Twice embodies the imprint's commitment to intentional, design-forward publishing. It is a meditation on seeing - urging us, as the title suggests, to "think twice" to hold death and beauty, ethics and aesthetics, in our minds at once.
The Ultimate Musician's Practice Planner
The Ultimate Musician's Practice Planner is a practical system designed to help musicians stay focused, organized, and steadily improving throughout the year.After years of teaching, I noticed that most players were practicing hard but without a clear sense of direction. They jumped from piece to piece, exercise to exercise, and idea to idea without a structure to tie them all together. I wanted to build something that made everyday practice easier to follow and easier to measure, and something that kept key theory tools close by so you never have to search around for the basics.This planner brings everything into one place: daily practice pages, weekly and monthly reviews, clear goal-setting, a space for teacher notes, and a full theory and reference section that musicians rely on most. It is designed to be simple to use, flexible for any instrument, and strong enough to support a full year of progress.What's InsidePart 1: Foundations and SetupPart 2: The Practice System (Daily, Weekly, Monthly)This planner follows a simple, steady routine that works for any instrument or level.Part 3: Integrated Theory and ReferenceA complete set of the core charts musicians rely on most: Part 4: Creative and Notes SectionA flexible space for ideas, sketches, and notes: You can start this planner at any time of year. I truly believe that those who stick with a consistent process always improve, which is why I created this framework. If I only realized earlier that getting better wasn't about filling my head with more stuff, but about keeping focused, I would have progressed much faster. Over time, this planner transforms scattered effort into a single, integrated approach, allowing you to stop chasing loose notes and start achieving measurable, consistent results.
Together Yet Alone
'Through the lives of Raj and Reema, a newly married couple trying to balance love, duty, and family expectations, this book shows the hidden truths of Indian marriages. Their story begins with joy, rituals, and dreams - but once the celebrations end, real life slowly brings quiet changes. The smiles fade into silence, and the happiness turns into small sacrifices that no one talks about.Each chapter shows how many couples live like this - together, yet emotionally distant. Using real stories, research, and honest reflections, the book talks about the unseen loneliness in marriage, the pressure on women to adjust, and the roles that society forces on both partners.It also reminds us that silence is not always peace, and compromise is not always love. Many people stay in marriages that look happy from the outside but feel empty inside.Still, there is hope. Through Reema's journey of self-discovery, the book shows that awareness, communication, and self-respect can bring back balance and real connection.In the end, Together Yet Alone asks one simple but powerful question: Can two people truly stay together if they forget who they really are?
A Lady, A Kiss And Two Idiots
This book was born from too much imagination, quite a few plot twists, and just the right amount of chaos - fitting, considering the title. It began with a wild idea: a practical-romantic fusion featuring Melicia, the bold survivor of a man's world; Keith, the introverted gentleman who still believes in loyalty, sincerity, and quiet love; and Ryan - the chaos in Keith's life, the friend who brings headaches but stands firm when it truly matters.Keith found love, but she wasn't what he expected. In fact, she was more than he could handle. Out of his league, unpredictable, dangerous in all the wrong and right ways - yet she liked him for exactly who he was. A simple man with a simple lifestyle, content with routine, honest intentions, and a quiet heart.Melicia, a con artist who married wealthy men, took their money, and moved on to the next target, shattered Keith's peaceful life with cinematic mayhem - car chases, dangerous men, stolen heirlooms, schemes, cons, hiding, running, and every twist you'd expect in an action movie. Keith's world flipped the moment she walked into it. He and Ryan were swept into the madness, but Keith stood by her through every mess, and Ryan - being the loyal idiot he is - stood by Keith.They might be idiots in the real world, but together, they survived. Together, they followed Melicia into danger and somehow crawled out alive, proving that even fools can be heroes with the right woman leading the way.To my friends and family - your patience deserves a medal.And to the readers: thank you for picking up A Lady, A Kiss, and Two Idiots. These characters are chaotic. They're flawed. They make terrible decisions. But they love fiercely - and so did I while shaping them into the versions you meet in this book.This story exists because you're here, willing to go along for the ride.
The Dada Veda Songbook
The Dada Veda songbook is a collection of songs written by Dada Veda over a period of 25 years. This compilation includes the lyrics, chords and links to recorded versions of the songs, making it possible for any musician to learn them and add to their repertories. The lyrics are positive, uplifting and written from the spiritual perspective of a world-travelled meditation teacher.A few singer-songwriters have already done their renditions of these songs on YouTube and in livestreams, and the publication of this book will make it possible for others to perform them. Dada's songs are also perfect for beginning musicians (on guitar, ukelele or piano) who wish to learn new songs and improve their musicality, as the songs are written using easy to learn chords.For practitioners of meditation and spirituality, there is also a special section of mantra chanting (kirtan) tutorials with chord charts and links to YouTube videos. The simplicity of the mantra chanting tutorials make them excellent for those who are beginning their guitar, piano or ukulele journeys.
Little Book of Gucci by Tom Ford
The legendary ten years Tom Ford spent at the helm of Gucci is one of the most significant decades in fashion history. Credited as the creative director who made the brand synonymous with sexiness, Ford flooded the runway and red carpet with slashed-to-the-waist silk shirts, sumptuous velvet tailoring, sheer flowing tunics, skin-flashing cut-outs, and even Gucci-branded G-strings. Celebrity fans included Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow, with Rihanna, Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Russell now seeking out rare archival pieces from these prized collections. Little Book of Gucci by Tom Ford deep dives every season, with over 100 images of all the cult designs, accompanied by expert text exploring the forever appeal of this sensual and eternally cool era.
The Two Noble Kinsmen
The two noble kinsmen presents a story where loyalty and affection collide, testing the limits of honor and personal desire. The narrative begins within a ruling court preparing for a celebratory union when a group of grieving figures arrives, pleading for justice after a devastating conflict. Their appeal leads to renewed confrontation and the capture of two noble prisoners whose bond is defined by deep mutual respect. While held in confinement, both encounter a figure whose presence reshapes their priorities. What once united them begins to fracture as admiration turns into longing, and longing becomes rivalry. The work explores how powerful emotions can blur duty, turning friendship into conflict. Freedom becomes both a physical goal and a metaphor for release from inner turmoil. Through shifts in fortune, misunderstandings, and unexpected alliances, the story examines how individuals struggle to choose between loyalty to another and loyalty to themselves. The play reveals that noble intentions can still lead to painful outcomes, suggesting that honor and love do not always coexist peacefully. Ultimately, the narrative reflects how emotional battles can be as defining and transformative as any external war.
Misalliance
Misalliance presents a lively social comedy that unfolds within a prosperous household where contrasting ideals of love, marriage, and independence collide. The story centers on a prosperous family enjoying a quiet weekend that quickly turns into a battle of wits and perspectives when guests with conflicting beliefs arrive. Through spirited exchanges and ironic situations, the play examines ideas of class privilege, gender expectations, and personal freedom. As conversations reveal insecurities and ambitions, each individual confronts their own limitations within the social order. The arrival of unexpected visitors, including one quite literally falling from the sky, disrupts conventional harmony and forces everyone to reconsider their assumptions about propriety and affection. What begins as light banter evolves into an examination of how society defines worth, compatibility, and courage in human connection. With its layered humor and philosophical undertones, the play offers a vivid commentary on shifting social values and the uneasy tension between tradition and self-determination.
The Plays Of W. E. Henley And R. L. Stevenson
The plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson brings together a series of dramatic works that blend psychological conflict, moral inquiry, and social observation. Among them, the play centred on a respected craftsman who conceals a life of crime stands out as a powerful study of duality and human weakness. The narrative moves through an atmosphere of tension, where public duty and private desire collide, creating a portrait of a man torn between his outer respectability and inner corruption. Through vivid dialogue and emotional intensity, the story exposes the strain of living two lives within a society governed by rigid moral expectations. Scenes featuring family ties and civic responsibility serve to heighten the conflict, reflecting themes of ambition, deceit, and the slow unraveling of conscience. The play's depiction of hidden vice beneath polished virtue becomes a broader commentary on hypocrisy and moral disintegration, transforming social respectability into a mirror for the darker truths of human nature.
Windows
Windows examines how ideals can fracture when confronted with real human vulnerability. It presents a household that believes itself guided by reason and moral clarity until the arrival of a troubled outsider exposes the fragility of those convictions. Daily routines give the impression of stability, yet behind polite exchanges lie impatience, disillusionment, and a growing awareness that certainty is far easier to maintain when untested. Conversations inside the home reveal competing beliefs about personal responsibility, compassion, and the limits of patience. The family debates the value of principles while quietly fearing the consequences of living by them. The outsider's presence forces each person to reassess comfortable assumptions, revealing how quickly judgment replaces empathy when reputation or privacy feels threatened. Ideals become strained under the weight of inconvenience, and lofty claims about integrity dissolve into tension and blame. The work ultimately suggests that clarity is not achieved by viewing life through abstract values, but by acknowledging the complexity, weakness, and desperation within ordinary human decisions.
On Conducting (Ueber Das Dirigiren) A Treatise On Style In The Execution Of Classical Music
On conducting (Ueber das Dirigiren): A treatise on style in the execution of classical music offers a detailed examination of the principles and artistry required in orchestral leadership. The work explores the conductor's responsibility not merely as a timekeeper but as an interpreter who brings depth, emotion, and clarity to the performance of classical compositions. Through analytical reflection, it emphasizes the need for precision, stylistic understanding, and respect for the composer's intent. The text critiques mechanical and uninspired methods of conducting, calling for a more expressive and intellectually engaged approach. It underscores the importance of balancing technical mastery with artistic sensitivity, particularly in interpreting the works of great composers such as Beethoven and Mozart. The treatise advocates for reforms in musical education and performance practice, encouraging conductors to cultivate both musical insight and a deep connection with their orchestras. Ultimately, the work stands as a passionate appeal for integrity, individuality, and authenticity in the interpretation of classical music, shaping the foundations of modern conducting philosophy.
The London Prodigal As It Was Played By The King's Majesties Servants
The London prodigal as it was played by the king's majesties servants depicts the downfall and redemption of a misguided youth whose reckless choices strain his family bonds and social standing. The play unfolds around themes of repentance, familial duty, and the moral consequences of indulgence. The story begins with an anxious father lamenting his son's wasteful behavior, setting a tone of both concern and irony that threads through the narrative. As deceit, vanity, and misjudgement steer the young man toward personal ruin, the plot contrasts moral weakness with enduring parental hope. Through moments of conflict, humor, and eventual self-realization, the play mirrors the tension between vice and virtue, exposing the temptations that accompany wealth and youth. At its heart, the work highlights the restorative power of forgiveness and the enduring faith in one's ability to change. Blending moral instruction with comedic undertones, the piece captures an age-old reflection on human frailty and spiritual renewal through lessons learned from folly and forgiveness.
Count Julian A Tragedy
Count Julian: A Tragedy unfolds as a powerful tragedy rooted in Spain's turbulent past, exploring themes of honor, vengeance, and moral conflict. The narrative opens in a scene charged with emotional intensity, where the central figure faces the anguish of past choices and the deep sorrow surrounding his family's fate. His conversation with the Metropolitan of Seville exposes the depth of his guilt and his burning resentment toward the nation's ruler, whose actions have brought personal ruin and national disgrace. This tension between private pain and patriotic duty drives the drama forward, transforming an individual's anguish into a reflection on loyalty and the cost of justice. The play intertwines personal betrayal with political turmoil, portraying the devastating impact of pride and corruption. Through its eloquent dialogue and tragic realism, the work captures the hero's descent into moral conflict while examining the thin line between righteousness and revenge, ultimately revealing the destructive power of passion when justice is clouded by grief.
Tamburlaine The Great Part I
Tamburlaine: The Great Part I portrays the epic rise of a formidable conqueror whose boundless ambition transforms him from a humble shepherd into a symbol of ruthless power. Set against a backdrop of political turmoil and shifting alliances, the play explores how the hunger for dominance both creates and destroys empires. The story begins in a fractured Persia where internal disputes among rulers mirror the instability that allows Tamburlaine's ascent. His brilliance in warfare and magnetic personality draw followers as he challenges established authority and reshapes territories through calculated aggression and charisma. The capture of a foreign princess adds emotional contrast to his relentless quest for greatness, revealing the tension between love and conquest. Through its grand language and dramatic intensity, the play examines the psychological dimensions of ambition, questioning whether power elevates or corrupts those who grasp it. The work ultimately becomes a reflection on destiny, human limitation, and the perilous allure of absolute control over nations and fate itself.
Lovers' Vows
Lovers' vows examines the moral and emotional complexities surrounding love, duty, and social order. The play delves into the conflict between personal desire and societal constraint, portraying how individuals struggle to reconcile affection with honor and convention. Set against the moral backdrop of class divisions and rigid expectations, it portrays the journey of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the restoration of justice. The work explores how compassion and truth can transcend the limits imposed by birth and reputation, offering a reflection on the redemptive power of sincerity and moral courage. Through moments of tension and revelation, the play critiques hypocrisy and prejudice, illuminating how genuine virtue often arises from adversity. The narrative's emotional depth lies in its depiction of loyalty, maternal love, and the courage to confront societal wrongs. It becomes both a domestic and social drama, emphasizing the enduring strength of conscience and the triumph of emotional honesty over social pretense.
A Family Man
A family man follows a strict head of household whose certainty in structure and rules begins to unravel when the people within his home challenge the life he tries to control. The narrative opens with him considering the possibility of a public honor, convinced that his authority extends not only over his household but into the larger community. The home appears orderly, yet tension grows beneath the surface. A silent restraint surrounds his partner, who reacts to his decisions with quiet endurance. Their desire for freedom, identity, and dignity confronts the rigid structure that defines their father's worldview. Each conversation reveals how tradition can become a cage when it refuses to adapt. The work shows the emotional cost of holding onto control and the pain that arises when love becomes a demand rather than a choice. Ultimately, the play examines how families fracture when authority refuses to listen and how growth requires letting go.
American Hand Book Of The Daguerreotype
American hand book of the daguerreotype offers a thorough guide to one of the earliest and most intricate photographic processes, aimed at both enthusiasts and skilled practitioners. The work details each stage of creating a daguerreotype, emphasizing accuracy, care, and technical mastery. It begins with methods for preparing, polishing, and coating the photographic plate, highlighting how precision in these steps determines the clarity and quality of the final image. Readers are walked through advanced procedures, such as buffing surfaces, using mercury vapors for image development, and maintaining the delicate chemical balance essential to the craft. The text also provides an overview of the specialized equipment and chemicals required, along with safety practices to protect both the photographer and the materials. Combining practical instruction with technical insight, the book serves as a foundational manual on the art's delicate interplay between science and creativity, guiding its audience toward proficiency in a pioneering medium of visual expression.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon chronicle stands as a foundational record of early English history, tracing the transformation of Britain from scattered tribal settlements to the rise of organized Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Compiled under royal patronage and continued by later scribes, it combines historical memory with evolving cultural identity. The chronicle opens with a survey of Britain's landscape and its earliest inhabitants, recounting migrations, conflicts, and the influence of Roman conquest. Through its entries, the text maps a lineage of rulers, wars, and natural events, creating a framework for understanding the political and social shifts that shaped the nation. Each section captures how communities responded to invasion, faith, and governance, reflecting the transition from pagan roots to Christian society. Its language and perspective reveal both the pride and the vulnerability of a people defining their place amid change. More than a record of rulers and battles, it endures as a mirror of collective memory and the beginnings of English identity.
