Odran Yates enters Clonliffe Seminary in 1972 after his mother informs him that he has a vocation to the priesthood. He goes in full of ambition & hope, dedicated to his studies & keen to make friends. Forty years later, Odran`s devotion has been challenged by the revelations that have shattered the Irish people`s faith in the church. He has seen friends stand trial, colleagues jailed, the lives of young parishioners destroyed & has become nervous of venturing out in public for fear of disapproving stares & insulting remarks. But when a family tragedy opens wounds from his past, he is forced to confront the demons that have raged within a once respected institution & recognise his own complicity in their propagation. It has taken John Boyne fifteen years & twelve novels to write about his home country of Ireland but he has done so now in his most powerful novel to date, a novel about blind dogma & moral courage, & about the dark places where the two can meet. At once courageous & intensely personal, A History of Loneliness confirms Boyne as one of the most searching chroniclers of his generation. ...

This is the first comprehensive history of Malawi during the colonial period. Using a wide range of primary & secondary sources, John Mc Cracken places this history within the context of the pre-colonial past. Central themes are the shaping of the colonial economy, the influence of Christianity, resistance to colonial occupation & the rise of a powerful nationalist movement that contained within it the seeds of a new authoritarianism. In particular, the author demonstrates the interrelationship between environmental & economic change & the impact these forces had on the Malawian peasantry. Space is also given to less mainstream activities including the creation of dance societies, the eruption of witchcraft eradication movements & the emergence of football as a popular sport. ...

A History of Modern Britain confronts head-on the victory of shopping over politics. It tells the story of how the great political visions of New Jerusalem or a second Elizabethan Age, rival idealisms, came to be defeated by a culture of consumerism, celebrity & self-gratification. In each decade, political leaders think they know what they are doing, but find themselves confounded. Every time, the British people turn out to be stroppier & harder to herd than predicted. Throughout, Britain is a country on the edge -- first of invasion, then of bankruptcy, then on the vulnerable front line of the Cold War & later in the forefront of the great opening up of capital & migration now reshaping the world. This history follows all the political & economic stories, but deals too with comedy, cars, the war against homosexuals, Sixties anarchists, oil-men & punks, Margaret Thatcher`s wonderful good luck, political lies & the true heroes of British theatre. `superb, colourful, outspoken, fresh & richly entertaining. Don`t miss` The Times ` Lively, full of rich anecdotes & sparkling pen portraits. He has the rare gift of being able to explain complex issues in a few crisp sentences` Sunday Telegraph ...

A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr confronts head-on the victory of shopping over politics. It tells the story of how the great political visions of New Jerusalem or a second Elizabethan Age, rival idealisms, came to be defeated by a culture of consumerism, celebrity & self-gratification. In each decade, political leaders think they know what they are doing, but find themselves confounded. Every time, the British people turn out to be stroppier & harder to herd than predicted. Throughout, Britain is a country on the edge
- first of invasion, then of bankruptcy, then on the vulnerable front line of the Cold War & later in the forefront of the great opening up of capital & migration now reshaping the world. This history follows all the political & economic stories, but deals too with comedy, cars, the war against homosexuals, Sixties anarchists, oil-men & punks, Margaret Thatcher`s wonderful good luck, political lies & the true heroes of British theatre.
...

Ilan Pappe`s book traces the history of Palestine from the Ottomans in the nineteenth century, through the British Mandate, the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, & the subsequent wars & conflicts which have dominated this troubled region. The second edition of Pappe`s book has been updated to include the dramatic events of the 1990s & the early twenty-first century. These years, which began with a sense of optimism, as the Oslo peace accord was being negotiated, culminated in the second intifada & the increase of militancy on both sides. Pappe explains the reasons for the failure of Oslo & the two-state solution, & reflects upon life thereafter as the Palestinians & Israelis battle it out under the shadow of the wall of separation. As in the first edition, it is the men, women & children of Palestine who are at the centre of Pappe`s narrative. ...

Once known as Burma, in 1989 this large country located in Southeast Asia officially became known as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Over the years Myanmar has had a colourful & exciting history, yet despite recent attempts to promote tourism, very few people visit this region of Asia, which has been ostracized due to its recent history of civil war & military rule. Still, from the sacred stupas of the plains of Bagan to the grand colonial-era British mansions, there is much beauty in this forgotten country. From early cultures of the Stone Age, through the protests of Buddhist monks during the twenty-first century, to the elections of 2010, there has hardly been a dull moment in Myanmar`s history. A History of Myanmar since Ancient Times describes the Burmese people, their culture, their ambitions, & the world that they live in. Covering more than 2, 200 years, this is the most comprehensive history of Myanmar ever published in the English language. Essential reading for any student of Myanmar or South-east Asian history, the book will surprise, challenge & inform in equal measure. ...

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, known amongst English speakers as Burma, is often characterized as a place of repressive military rule, civil war, censorship & corrupt elections
- & despite recent attempts to promote tourism to this little-known country, few people visit this region of Asia. In A History of Myanmar since Ancient Times, Michael Aung-Thwin & Maitrii Aung-Thwin take us from the sacred stupas of the plains of Bagan to the gr&, colonial-era British mansions, revealing the storied past & rich culture of this country. The book traces the traditions & transformations of Myanmar over nearly three millennia, from the relics of its Neolithic civilization to the protests of Buddhist monks in the early twentieth century, the colonial era of British rule & the republic that followed. The authors also consider the present-day life, culture & society of the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia & examine the 2010 elections
- its first in over twenty years
- as well as the recent release of Aung San Suu Kyi & increased engagement & dialogue with the West. The most comprehensive history of Myanmar ever published in the English language, this book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Southeast Asian history & will surprise, challenge & inform in equal measure.


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In 1990 Namibia gained its independence after a decades-long struggle against South African rule
- &, before that, against German
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In 1809, New Yorkers were buzzing about a series of classified ads concerning the whereabouts of Dutch historian Diedrich Knickerbocker. They were unaware that Washington Irving had invented the man entirely & placed the ads himself. Knickerbocker`s purported manuscript, ”A History of New York”, was Irving`s own. Told from Knickerbocker`s point of view, ”A History of New York” is a chronicle of New York`s fifty years under Dutch rule in the 1600s that plays fast & loose with the facts, to uproarious effect. ”A History of New York” propelled Irving to the heights of literary stardom. ...

What did we know about birds a thousand years ago, & how has our understanding developed? A History of Ornithology offers a complete history of birdwatching in Britain, a classic for every nature lover's bookshelf. Today there is a huge interest in birdwatching as a hobby, & over the years amateur birdwatchers have contributed enormously to our understanding of the birds around us. At the same time, ornithology has developed as a science
- in the field, in the laboratory, & in the universities
- & birds have played their part in pushing forward the frontiers of biological knowledge. Peter Bircham looks at the history of British ornithology, spanning a millennium & exploring along the way the first bird book, the earliest British lists, various notable scientists, collectors & artists, the first studies of migration, & the challenges presented by classification. He traces the development of the British Ornithologists' Union & other organisations, & finishes with a review of the current state of ornithology in Britain.A History of Ornithology is an authoritative & engrossing account, packed full of fascinating stories
- not only about the birds but also about the many colourful characters who have studied them through the ages. This beautifully illustrated book will hold great appeal both for the student of ornithology & for the enthusiastic amateur naturalist.


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