An engrossing & definitive narrative account of history & myth that offers a new way of understanding one of the world's oldest major religions The Hindus elucidates the relationship between recorded history & imaginary worlds Hinduism does not lend itself easily to a strictly chronological account many of its central texts cannot be reliably dated even within a century; its central tenets karma dharma to name just two arise at particular moments in Indian history & differ in each era between genders & caste to caste; & what is shared among Hindus is overwhelmingly outnumbered by the things that are unique to one group or another Yet the greatness of Hinduism
- its vitality its earthiness its vividness
- lies precisely in many of those idiosyncratic qualities that continue to inspire debate today Wendy Doniger is one of the foremost scholars of Hinduism in the world With her inimitable insight & expertise Doniger illuminates those moments within the tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon Without reversing or misrepresenting the historical hierarchies she reveals how Sanskrit & vernacular sources are rich in knowledge of & compassion toward women & lower castes; how they debate tensions surrounding religion violence & tolerance; & how animals are the key to important shifts in attitudes toward different social classes The Hindus brings a fascinating multiplicity of actors & stories to the stage to show how brilliant & creative thinkers
- many of them far removed from Brahmin authors of Sanskrit texts
- have kept Hinduism alive in ways that other scholars have not fully explored In this unique & authoritative account debates about Hindu traditions become platforms from which to consider the ironies & overlooked epiphanies of history



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Hip-hop is in crisis For the past dozen years the most commercially successful hip-hop has become increasingly saturated with caricatures of black gangstas thugs pimps & 'hos The controversy surrounding hip-hop is worth attending to & examining with a critical eye because as scholar & cultural critic Tricia Rose argues hip-hop has become a primary means by which we talk about race in the United States In The Hip-Hop Wars Rose explores the most crucial issues underlying the polarized claims on each side of the debate Does hip-hop cause violence or merely reflect a violent ghetto culture? Is hip-hop sexist or are its detractors simply anti-sex? Does the portrayal of black culture in hip-hop undermine black advancement? A potent exploration of a divisive & important subject The Hip-Hop Wars concludes with a call for the regalvanization of the progressive & creative heart of hip-hop What Rose calls for is not a sanitized vision of the form but one that more accurately reflects a much richer space of culture politics anger & yes sex than the current ubiquitous images in sound & video currently provide ...

This is the first history of the Hippie Trail It records the joys & pains of budget travel to Kathmandu India Afghanistan & other 'points east' in the 1960s & 1970s Written in a clear simple style it provides detailed analysis of the motivations & the experiences of hundreds of thousands of hippies who travelled eastwards The book is structured around four key debates were the travellers simply motivated by a search for drugs? Did they encounter love or sexual freedom on the road? Were they basically just tourists? Did they resemble pilgrims? It also considers how the travellers have been represented in films novels & autobiographical accounts & will appeal to those interested in the Trail or the 1960s counterculture as well as students taking courses relating to the 1960s -- ...

Come now or come never! The invitation was delivered by bees It wasn't addressed to anyone at all but Ben knew it was for him It would lead him to an old shambolic museum full of strange & bewitching creatures It would lead him to curious family secrets & mysteries
- & some really quite dangerous magic The stunning debut novel from twice Kate Greenaway medal-winning Helen Cooper
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Princess Flo has pocket money to spend so she's off to Fluffley's Fine Toys the best toy shop in town There are cuddly teddies cute kittens & perky penguins
- all perfect for a royal princess! But to everyone's dismay Princess Flo spots a strange looking toy It's part hippo part panda & part mouse & a total & utter mistake! But luckily for all Princess Flo sees something unique & special
- the perfect toy All he needs now is a name! An incredibly funny debut from the winner of the Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2013 A brilliant big-hearted story with an important message; our imperfections make us perfect

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Please note this is a region 2 DVD & will require a region 2 or region free DVD player in order to play An insightful examination of class barriers in England in the 1920s following the romance between a wealthy young widow & her hired chauffeur While recovering from a nervous breakdown she starts a love affair with the chauffeur but after she begins to recover her mental stability the barriers rise once again ...

Mums- & dads-to-be both want the best for their baby but often their experiences of the journey to parenthood can be quite different In this book leading antenatal teachers Dean & Steph Beaumont offer a new way to prepare for your new arrival Covering everything from first finding out you are pregnant to the early weeks with your baby you'll find practical advice reassurance & guidance on how you can support each other as well as your growing baby Divided into sections with targeted information for mum & dad addressing their concerns & questions The His & Hers Guide to Pregnancy & Birth will support you as individuals giving you the confidence & knowledge you need Each chapter also

Includes:: a ' Get Together' section which provides ideas for bonding advice on what dad can do to help & ways to connect with & understand each other

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Late one night exploring her father's library a young woman finds an ancient book & a cache of yellowing letters addressed ominously to ' My dear & unfortunate successor' Her discovery plunges her into a world she never dreamed of
- a labyrinth where the secrets of her father's past & her mother's mysterious fate connect to an evil hidden in the depths of history In those few quiet moments she unwittingly assumes a quest she will discover is her birthright
- a hunt for the truth about Vlad the Impaler the medieval ruler whose barbarous reign formed the basis of the Dracula myth Deciphering obscure signs & hidden texts reading codes worked into the fabric of medieval monastic traditions & evading terrifying adversaries one woman comes ever closer to the secret of her own past & a confrontation with the very definition of evil Elizabeth Kostova's debut novel is an adventure of monumental proportions
- a captivating tale that blends fact & fantasy history & the present with an assurance that is almost unbearably suspenseful
- & utterly unforgettable



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Written in an engaging & entertaining style this widely-used how-to guide introduces readers to the theory craft & methods of history & provides a series of tools to help them research & understand the past Part I is a stimulating philosophical introduction to the key elements of history--evidence narrative & judgment--that explores how the study & concepts of history have evolved over the centuries Part II guides readers through the workshop of history Unlocking the historian's toolbox the chapters here describe the tricks of the trade with concrete examples of how to do history The tools include documents primary & secondary sources maps arguments bibliographies chronologies & many others This section also covers professional ethics & controversial issues such as plagiarism historical hoaxes & conspiracy theories Part III addresses the relevance of the study of history in today's fast-paced world The chapters here will resonate with a new generation of readers on everyday history oral history material culture public history event analysis & historical research on the Internet This Part also

Includes:: two new chapters for this edition GIS & CSI examines the use of geographic information systems & the science of forensics in discovering & seeing the patterns of the past Too Much Information treats the issue of information overload glut fatigue & anxiety while giving the reader meaningful signals that can benefit the study & craft of history A new epilogue for this edition argues for the persistence of history as a useful & critically important way to understand the world despite the information deluge

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A biography of the historical figure of Jesus The book studies the relationship between Judaism & Christianity distinguishing the certain from the improbable & assessing the historical & religious context of Christ's time The spread of Christianity is also discussed ...