![]() ![]() Menzies sets the stage by recapitulating arguments from his first book, including the ingenious method for calculating longitude that Chinese navigators may have used. There, they provided the knowledge and technique-introducing the painter Alberti, for instance, to the methods of perspective drawing-that sparked the Renaissance. His thesis in both works is based on the seven (historically undisputed) voyages undertaken by a large Chinese sailing fleet between 14 while it is known that they traveled as far as east Africa, Menzies believes that they landed in Italy and sent a delegation to the Council of Venice, held in Florence in 1439. ![]() In Menzies's 1421, the amateur historian advanced a highly controversial hypothesis, that the Chinese discovered America in this follow-up, he credits the Renaissance not to classical Greek and Roman ideals (a ""Eurocentric view of history"") but again to the Chinese. ![]()
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![]() ![]() While the book might recall Dave Eggers's novelized version of a real-life Sudanese refugee's experience in What Is the What Kidder renders his subject with deep yet unfussy fidelity and the conflict with detail and nuance. Told in flashbacks from Deo's 2006 return visit to Burundi to mid-1990s New York and the Burundi of childhood memory and young adulthood-as the Rwandan genocide spilled across the border following the same inflamed ethnic divisions-then picking up in 2003, when author and subject first meet, Deo's experience is conveyed with a remarkable depth of vision and feeling. ![]() ) recounts the story of Deo, the Burundian former medical student turned American émigré at the center of this strikingly vivid story. ![]() With an anthropologist's eye and a novelist's pen, Pulitzer Prize–winning Kidder ( Mountains Beyond Mountains ![]() ![]() ![]() One example is the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series coming to Disney+ in 2024. TV being the better medium for adapting novels over film is only reinforced by other failed franchises that are now transitioning to TV. ![]() The longer-form storytelling that can be utilized with TV allowed each of the storylines, characters, and themes to be explored with much more depth than the film did. His Dark Materials has been counted as much more successful than The Golden Compass, both in its overall production quality and the fidelity to the books, exemplified by His Dark Materials' satisfying season 3 ending. ![]() The series was then commissioned by the BBC in 2015 with a release date of 2017. The series was naturally canned and led to the rights reverting to Pullman. This meant that it was a box-office disappointment and led to an entire restructuring of New Line Cinema itself. All of this was confounded by The Golden Compass being one of New Line Cinema's most expensive films. ![]() However, the film received criticism for its screenplay, and failure to adapt the book appropriately, especially in terms of diluting the novel's religious themes. In 2007, New Line Cinema attempted to kickstart a His Dark Materials series with The Golden Compass, an adaptation of Northern Lights. The idea that book adaptations are best as TV shows is further exemplified by previous adaptations of Pullman's book series. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() By the standards of turn-of-the-century America, such a decision stamps Carrie as a moral failure. Although she starts out with pure intentions, traveling to the city in hopes of finding honest work, she quickly feels unsatisfied with the low pay and slow grind of hard labor and instead chooses to become a kept woman. And because Carrie manages to climb the ranks by following her own instincts and desires rather that adhering to society’s rigid moral code, Dreiser also subverts the Victorian idea that life rewards people for morally upstanding behavior.Īccording to the society that she lives in, Carrie’s behavior is thoroughly immoral. ![]() ![]() For Dreiser, instinct is neither morally good nor bad-it simply exists and wields considerable influence over human life. Where a typical Victorian novel might render Carrie’s narrative as that of a woman falling from grace and being shunned by society, Dreiser portrays Carrie as a woman who rises to the upper echelons of society as a result of instinctual decisions that might be considered morally questionable. Carrie often internally wars over whether to follow conventional moral standards or her instinctual desires, and she almost always succumbs to the latter. In Sister Carrie, Dreiser objectively relates the narrative without pronouncing judgment on his characters. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() It intertwines with death issues – the desire to avenge the murder and leads to new victims and a bloody end. Revenge is the central motive for the actions of the protagonist. The key themes driving the plot of the play are revenge and mortality. There is also a duel in the finale, where Ophelia’s brother Laertes, Hamlet’s mother and stepfather, and the protagonist himself, dies. Intrigues lead to tragic deaths – the father of Ophelia, the young woman herself, and the friends of Hamlet. Moreover, the king is plotting a new murder and gives an order to kill Hamlet. ![]() They even involve Ophelia, Hamlet’s sympathy, and the prince’s two friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. At the same time, the mother and stepfather try to learn by deception whether the prince is really insane. In his game, Hamlet becomes sure of the guilt of the new king. The prince comes up with a plan to kill his uncle Claudius, part of which is a simulation of madness. Having met the ghost of the king, Hamlet learns that his uncle is also a murderer, and his father calls him for revenge. His son Hamlet is upset by his father’s death and disappointed with the behavior of his mother, that married her late husband’s brother a few months after the funeral. The play’s plot describes the actions in the royal court in Denmark, where the king recently died. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Schwartz believes comics should be treated as real artifacts that contribute to the tapestry of American (and Jewish) history.Ĭover of Superman #1 in 1939, cover art by Joe Shuster. “Superman is an all American icon, but he’s a Jewish American icon, and he also reminds us that being an immigrant is all American,” said Schwartz. ![]() The duality narrative mirrors the tensions that existed for Jewish immigrants forming new identities in America. That’s the Jewish immigrants experience in a nutshell”Įxploring Superman’s background serves as real insight into the mentality of his Jewish immigrant creators. He can decide whether he shows it or not. “He decides at any given moment which side of himself - not just personal but also ethnic and racial - to share with the world. ![]() “It’s a story about an immigrant born with the Hebraic name ‘Kal El’ who comes from the old country, changes his name to the uber waspy Clark Kent and hides his cape like a tallit in his pants,” he said. Superman’s origin story is reflective of the Jewish immigrant experience, said Schwartz. “In many ways, Superman’s famous ‘S’ shield was a simple, powerful symbol used as a counter argument to the swastika.” “It was their reaction to the rise of Nazis in Europe and to antisemitism domestically,” he noted. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1942, New York. ![]() ![]() The Illustrated Man is the eccentric, haunting tale of a young man's encounter, beginning on a late Wisconsin afternoon, and continuing on into the early morning dark, with a mysterious, stocky, somewhat unkempt, considerably older man who, the young man soon learns, has had his entire covering of skin tattooed. At the time of publication of The Illustrated Man, Bradbury, now an American literary icon, had produced two previous works, Dark Carnival and the now-legendary The Martian Chronicles. Some of the requisite library markings are present, as might be expected. ![]() ![]() A similar horizontal, irregular tear exists on pages 241-242, as well, which I thought best to neatly clear tape to stabilize. Pages 243-244 were previously irregularly, horizontally, practically-all-the-way-across torn, about 3/4 of the way down from top(this tear was already clear taped/repaired previously). There is light, spotty foxing observed on some pages, the body of which shows some quite modest yellowing. This rebound ex-library, 5" X 7 3/4", 251-page, First Edition offering is in G+ condition. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury was published by Doubleday & Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, in 1951. ![]() ![]() When asked the trick question during her trial of whether she is in God's grace, this uneducated peasant responds, “If I am not, may God bring me to it if I am, may God keep me in it." Joan was able to verbally spar with these highly educated men who were twice her age, and not only keep up with them, but best them at their own game. Joan the Maid was truly a strong, inspirational female. There are a lot of side notes which were also very informative and appreciated. It was nice to have an interpretation of who they were, and what they looked like, even if it was an antique artist’s impression. There are a handful of artwork and early depictions of the subjects included in the book which I found remarkable. I thought I had a pretty firm grasp on the majority of her story but much to my delight, there was a lot that I did not know. I learned a lot more than I thought I would about the life of Joan of Arc. ![]() I found the majority of the book compelling and very interesting. ![]() This book reads a bit like a history book, which is appropriate for the subject matter. ![]() ![]() ![]() 'A touching and tempestuous romance, with all the ingredients Regency fans adore.' - Gaelen Foley, New York Times bestselling author, for Dukes Are Forever My favourite kind of historical!' - Grace Burrowes, New York Times bestselling author, for Dukes Are Forever But when she turns to him for help, nothing will stop him from coming to her aid and showing her exactly what she means to him. Though he quickly learns that Sydney is innocent, he's determined to keep the secretive widow at arm's length despite the attraction that burns between them. And that includes risking her life when she's coerced into working for Scepter, a revolutionary group determined to overthrow the government.Ĭaptain Nathaniel Reed has been charged by the Home Office to determine Sydney's involvement with Scepter. Since the husband she despised is dead, she'll do anything to get her son back and protect him the way only she can. ![]() Lady Sydney Rowland, Baroness Rowland, has spent a lifetime keeping secrets, one of them being her son. ![]() ![]() Secrets and romance burn brightly in this steamy new historical romance set in Anna Harrington's dazzling Regency world ![]() ![]() ![]() 'With only one book, Anita Kelly has landed among my all-time favourite authors' Meryl Wilsner. Wildly charming, exquisitely vibrant, and achingly tender. I can't wait to buy it for everyone I've ever met' Rosie Danan. Suddenly winning isn't as important as either of them thought, but when their relationship starts to feel the heat both in and out of the kitchen, Dahlia and London realise that love doesn't always follow a recipe. After filming a few episodes, Dahlia and London grow closer and things get a little steamy as they spend more time together outside of the show. The first openly nonbinary contestant on America's favourite cooking show falls for their clumsy competitor in this delicious romantic comedy debut!Īs the first non-binary contestant on Chef's Special, they have a lot to prove, and they have enough on their mind without being distracted by the pretty contestant who crashed into them on Day One and hasn't really stopped talking since. ![]() |