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      • Trusted Partner
        Literature & Literary Studies
        January 2023

        The gift of narrative in medieval England

        by Nicholas Perkins

        This invigorating study places medieval romance narrative in dialogue with theories and practices of gift and exchange, opening new approaches to questions of storytelling, agency, gender and materiality in some of the most engaging literature from the Middle Ages. It argues that the dynamics of the gift are powerfully at work in romances: through exchanges of objects and people; repeated patterns of love, loyalty and revenge; promises made or broken; and the complex effects that time works on such objects, exchanges and promises. Ranging from the twelfth century to the fifteenth, and including close discussions of poetry by Chaucer, the Gawain-Poet and romances in the Auchinleck Manuscript, this book will prompt new ideas and debate amongst students and scholars of medieval literature, as well as anyone curious about the pleasures that romance narratives bring.

      • Trusted Partner
        Humanities & Social Sciences
        March 2017

        Payment and philanthropy in British healthcare, 1918–48

        by George Campbell Gosling, Keir Waddington

        This book is available as an open access ebook under a CC-BY-NC-ND licence. At a time when payment is claiming a greater place than ever before within the NHS, this book provides the first in-depth investigation of the workings, scale and meaning of payment in British hospitals before the NHS. There were only three decades in British history when it was the norm for patients to pay the hospital; those between the end of the First World War and the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948. Payment played an important part in redefining rather than abandoning medical philanthropy, based on class divisions and the notion of financial contribution as a civic duty. With new insights on the scope of private medicine and the workings of the means test in the hospital, as well as the civic, consumer and charitable meanings associated with paying the hospital, Gosling offers a fresh perspective on healthcare before the NHS and welfare before the welfare state.

      • Trusted Partner
      • Trusted Partner
        February 2021

        Layers

        by Poznanski, U.

        Can You Believe Your Eyes?   Dorian has been living on the streets since running away from home, and has always managed to fend for himself pretty well. But when he wakes up one morning beside a dead homeless man who has evidently been murdered, Dorian panics – he can’t remember anything of what happened the previous night. Is he responsible for the man’s murder? Then a stranger appears with an unexpected offer of help, and Dorian seizes the opportunity with both hands – this is his chance to hide from the police. The stranger works with young people in need, and he takes Dorian to a villa where he is given food, new clothes and even schooling.But Dorian soon learns that you get nothing for free in this life. In return for being looked after at the villa, Dorian is expected to distribute mysterious free gifts – gifts which are very carefully sealed. And when an unexpected turn of events results in him keeping one of the gifts, he finds himself being hunted by merciless pursuers.   After the international YA-bestseller Erebos, Saeculum and The Eleria-Trilogy Ursula Poznanski now presents her new thriller: Layers   Awarded with the Hans-Jörg-Martin Prize 2016 for the best YA-Thriller! More information also available under: www.layers-buch.de

      • Trusted Partner
        January 2014

        A Gift from Hongwei

        by Hong Wei

        Focusing on the structure, the book adopts different types of paper and an almost perfect printing technique. While reading, surprises occur from time to time so as to make readers delighted as if they have received a long-expected present.

      • Trusted Partner
        Children's & young adult: general non-fiction
        2021

        Ukraine: From Ancient Times to the Present

        by Maria Takhtaulova, Serhiy Zhukov

        Ukraine: from Ancient Times to the Present is an express guide to the past of our country from historians Maria Takhtaulova and Sergiy Zhukov. The book can be divided into two parts. The first part contains brief information on significant historic events (settlement of the first people, the formation of Kyivan Rus, the Cossacks, etc.); the second gives a general idea of the cultural achievements of Ukrainians (language, architecture, traditions, and much more). A simple presentation of information and many illustrations make the book ideal for familiarizing children with the history and culture of Ukraine, as well as contribute to the interest in this science.

      • Trusted Partner
        December 2015

        Gift of the Dark Mother Earth

        by Can Xue

        Gift of the Dark Mother Earth, the latest novel by Can Xue, is a profound metaphor of her hometown. It follows her usual magical style in the sense that it vividly unfolds the complex and delicate inner world of the characters. The story takes place in the remote Wuliqu School, with such distinctive characters as Teacher Meiyong, Zhang Danzhi, Yutian, Xiao Man, Uncle Yun and Sha Men presented one after another. The personality and human nature exposed through unique dialogues enable the readers to feel a return to simplicity so that they want to explore human soul and nature and start in-depth reading and thinking. The book depicts petty matters in a great age. The author’s ambition is to create a feeling for the pattern of the whole universe through the structure of an ordinary tree leaf, and to unify the arbitrarily split world through the narration of various folk sundries so that different characters can all become the center of this unity and their performance can have a universality. As the only Chinese writer who has won the Best Translated Book Award in the United States, Can Xue was nominated for the foreign novel prize of The Independent of the UK and shortlisted in the Neustadt International Prize for Literature of the US. As the Chinese woman writer, whose works have been translated and published the most abroad, Can Xue has been called the most creative Chinese writer by overseas critics.

      • Trusted Partner
        Humanities & Social Sciences
        2020

        What Will Give Us Strength

        by Tetiana Teren (compiler)

        What gives us strength? To us as individuals, to our families, to the country, to the world? Each of us has his own source of inspiration. But what to do if it does not always work? Then we are looking for the strength in others, for their advice and support, for their way of keeping strong in challenging times. In 2019-2020, Ukrainians needed additional sources of strength, because war, uncertainty, political populism, and pandemic created additional stress. During those years twenty-five leading Ukrainian intellectuals reflected on their sources of their resilience in the publication "What will give us strength?". Collected under one cover, twenty five essays discuss a difficult period of challenges in the life of each author individually as well as Ukraine in general. The answers offered by the authors will become a valuable guide for the reader, a model of motivation, an advice to hold on to.

      • Trusted Partner
        April 2021

        Mbumanjé and the Bamum Royal Pipe

        by Emmanuel Matateyou

        It was the day of the Nja festival. The entire capital was animated. Each queen woke up, went towards the crowd and returned with their mothers in front of the throne, where the king gave them gifts. When it was Mbumanjé’s turn to present her mother to the king, she went towards the crowd, and to everyone’s surprise, presented a healthy-looking woman who was well dressed. Disappointment!

      • Trusted Partner
        Fiction
        October 2009

        Library of Chinese Classics :The Selected Poems of Du Fu

        by Hua Zisheng

        Du Fu (712-770), China's great poet in the Tang Dynasty. After experiencing the decline of the Tang dynasty, he witnessed the changes of the current situation, created poems that reflect the difficult and livelihood problems of the people with his extraordinary artistic talents, and was later praised for his "history of poetry." Poetry also content of the works, such as singing natural scenery, reviews of ancient and modern personnel, laments his talent description skills, portrayals of birds and animals, all have celebrated the famous works. To more than 1,400 Du Fu, greatly enriched and developed the artistic techniques of ancient Chinese poetry. Du Fu's character and poem have an extremely far-reaching impact on future generations. He is one of the most outstanding representatives of Chinese traditional culture. The book includes 135 Du Fu poetry translated by the famous American house Burton Watson.

      • Trusted Partner

        The Best Gift For a Child---How to Be a Positive Parent

        by LI Zhaoliang

        The best education is the most active and active education. This book contains five interactive parts: the first part is the scientific concept, theory and principle of active education. This is the level of active education "road"; the second part is about the positive psychology of children, virtue, strengths, etc. The quality and cultivation of the quality of the child, specifically include self-esteem, values, autonomy, gratitude, optimism and other content; Part III is an effective method and practical technology for active family education, including children's good habits, learning Guidance strategy, mobile phone use management method, how to grasp the education scale, parent-child communication skills, correctly praise the child's method, etc., this is the level of "surgery" in the active family education; the fourth part is 0 ~ 18 years old four different age stages Psychological growth demand and mental care method; the fifth part is related to the child's happiness. In response to the key, difficulties and pain points of family education, the author combines the latest research results of positive psychology, conduct scientific analysis and professional explanations, give effective methods and practical technology, both professional, and unrestrained practical Sex, is the latest active family education in China, which has a very important guidance for how parents educate children.

      • Trusted Partner
        Humanities & Social Sciences
        October 2020

        Christmas in nineteenth-century England

        by Neil Armstrong

        Whether for reasons of family, food, shopping or religion, it's hard to imagine a British winter without Christmas, or to think of a more traditional national festival. But how and when did Christmas cards, pantomimes and advertising become part of that tradition? This book looks at how people in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries experienced Christmas and how today's priorities and rituals began and endured. It explores the origins of our deeply held notions around Christmas traditions and demonstrates how those ideas were in fact shaped by the fast-paced modernisation of English life. A fascinating account of the development of many things we now take for granted, the book touches on the history of childhood and the family, philanthropy and work, and the beginnings of consumerism that shaped the Christmas we know today.

      • Trusted Partner
        Humanities & Social Sciences
        August 2002

        Courtship and constraint

        Rethinking the making of marriage in Tudor England

        by Diana O'Hara, Peter Lake, Anthony Milton, Jason Peacey, Alexandra Gajda

        The first study of early modern English courtship as a subject in its own right. New historical and anthropological insights into the making of marriage, and an arresting and exciting contribution to the history of the family. Takes the interpretation of the English church court material to a new level of sophistication. Explores new or neglected subjects such as the use of gifts or tokens and the role of go-betweens in English courtship. The fresh and wholly original perspectives on English courtship offered here should redirect and revitalise the history of marriage in early modern England. ;

      • Trusted Partner
        Mind, Body, Spirit

        ANIMALS

        Personal Tales of Encounters with Spirit Animals

        by Dr. Steven Farmer

        Experience the Magic of Spirit AnimalsSoar with Dr. Steven Farmer and selected sacred storytellers as they share personal tales of spirit animals appearing to them in real life, in dreams, or symbolically, to share their mystical yet practical medicine. Experience how these spiritual allies can guard, aid, heal, and guide you in the most unexpected and delightful ways. Renowned “animal spirit guy” Dr. Steven Farmer explains how these profound encounters affirm our intimacy with the animal world and the realm of Spirit. His wisdom will heighten your understanding of spirit animal symbolism, the five major ways that spirit animals can speak to you, and how to discern their messages for you. Learn how to receive the animals’ gifts in the form of wisdom, guidance, protection, and power, and come to feel their support, trust their keen perception, and appreciate the simple ways in which they appear just when you need guidance the most. ANIMALS will show you how you, too, can fly like an eagle, run like a puma, and reach new heights like the tallest giraffe.

      • Trusted Partner
        Mind, Body, Spirit

        Your Soul Has a Plan

        Awaken to Your Life Purpose through Your Akashic Records

        by Lisa Barnett

        You were born with a plan that holds sacred contracts, soul talents, and karmic patterns to ensure you fulfill your life purpose. Now is the time to discover it! Get ready to take a journey of self-discovery while embracing the path your soul has laid out for you. With the help of the Akashic Record Keepers, receive answers to questions that, until now, have been unanswerable. In this book, renowned author and wisdom teacher Lisa Barnett addresses:• What a soul plan is• How to identify and heal trauma• The influence of past lives and soul families• How to release confusion and realign with your soul plan• What karmic patterns are, and how they support soul growth• How to move forward with purpose by embracing your soul gifts and talents   In each chapter Lisa shares wisdom from the Akashic Record Keepers, an exercise for reflection, and Akashic healing prayers to help you on your life journey. Break free from old patterns, move forward with purpose in understanding your soul plan, and awaken your inner joy.

      • Trusted Partner
        Children's & YA
        2017

        My Name is Mariam

        by Nadiyka Herbish (Author), Mariya Foya (Illustrator)

        Mariam has lost her home in every sense: she ended up in a foreign country, faced hostility generated by stereotypes, experienced a bitter loss. All the same, she also got the two most valuable gifts, love and her life. When a war starts, those people who manage to escape its flames have nothing but memories, love, and burning desire to protect the people dear to them. Eventually, it is from these seeds that a whole new world can grow. All you need is a bit of “good soil” and support from the people around you.   From 6 to 12 years, 6700 words. Rightsholders: info@vivat.factor.ua or miroshnik@vivat.factor.ua

      • Trusted Partner
        Comic strip fiction / graphic novels (Children's/YA)
        August 2018

        The Straw Giant and the Crow

        by Bosworth-Smith, Jessica

        The Straw Giant and The Crow by Jessica Bosworth Smith is a heartfelt and off-the-wall story about a mysterious relationship between a straw giant and a crow. There is a field afar that holds an incredible secret... a giant lives there who is made of straw. One winter, grumpy and miserable with his cold surroundings, the Straw Giant chases away all the other animals in his field. That is, until the Crow arrives and begins to leave him little gifts each morning. A sweet and subtle friendship emerges — but will the Crow be able to last the Winter Solstice? Will their friendship defy the cold clutches of winter and last out?

      • Trusted Partner
        The Arts
        September 2019

        Queer Objects

        by Chris Brickell, Judith Collard

        Queer lives give rise to a vast array of objects: the things we fill our houses with, the gifts we share with our friends, the commodities we consume at work and at play, the clothes and accessories we wear, and the analogue and digital technologies we use to communicate with one another. But what makes an object queer? The sixty-three chapters in Queer Objects consider this question in relation to lesbian, gay and transgender communities across time, cultures and space. In this unique international collaboration, well-known and newer writers traverse world history to write about items ranging from ancient Egyptian tomb paintings and Roman artefacts to political placards, snapshots, sex toys and the smartphone. Fabulous, captivating, transgressive.

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