” The Awakening & Selected Stories” is Kate Chopin`s groundbreaking depiction of a woman who dares to defy the expectations of society in the pursuit of her desire, edited with an introduction by Sandra M. Gilbert in ” Penguin Classics”. When ” The Awakening” was first published in 1899, charges of sordidness & immorality seemed to consign it into obscurity & irreparably damage its author`s reputation. But a century after her death, it is widely regarded as Kate Chopin`s great achievement. Through careful, subtle changes of style, Chopin shows the transformation of Edna Pontellier, a young wife & mother, who
- with tragic consequences
- refuses to be caged by married & domestic life, & claims for herself moral & erotic freedom. In her introduction, Sandra M. Gilbert considers the issues explored in the novel & the stories collected here (including ” Emancipation”, ” At the cadian Ball”, & ” Desiree`s baby”) from their growth out of the feminist literary tradition of the nineteenth century, to their place among other concerns of fin de siecle writers in America & Europe, to their impact on contemporary feminist writing. Katherine O` Flaherty (1850-1904), known by her married name Kate Chopin, was an American author of short stories & novels. Her works appeared in literary magazines & popular American periodicals of the day, including ” Vogue & The Atlantic”. In 1899, her second novel, ” The Awakening”, was published to much outrage & harsh criticism based upon moral, rather than literary, standards. If you enjoyed ” The Awakening & Selected Stories”, you might enjoy Jean Rhys`s ” Good Morning Midnight”, also available in ” Penguin Classics”.

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Did you know that there is a tree-climbing fish? Or that some bees drink crocodile tears? Or that a jellyfish was sent into space? Be truly inspired by incredible facts about the creatures that share our planet. Find out: If you`re as tall as an emperor penguin or a velociraptor Whether a honey badger could beat a lion in a fight How one man was swallowed head first by a great white shark
- & survived! Find out disgusting, hilarious, weird & wacky facts with this awesome book! Are you ready for another EPIC book from the winner of the Blue Peter Book Award 2016 (Best Book with Facts)?
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On the gulf of Thail&, the Juree family are managing their run-down beach resort for the second year
- still stalked by disaster.
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On the gulf of Thail&, the Juree family are managing their run-down beach resort for the second year
- still stalked by disaster.
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The Ayahuasca diaries is a vine-entangled tale of shamans, jungles, psychedelic substances, a broken-hearted poker player, a few pretty girls (and a couple who aren`t) & several dark temples where smoking & spitting are encouraged.. .if only to ease access into the spirit world. In this, the first South African title to chronicle the South American Ayahuasca experience, Caspar Greeff, in the throes of a mid-life crisis, travels to Peru with his father where they are introduced to Ayahuasca, ”the vine of the dead”. The dark, foul-tasting psychedelic brew is made up of the leaves of an indigenous shrub & a jungle vine. While Ayahuasca is believed to transport its drinkers to the world of spirits, the land of the dead, it is also known as ”the mother of all medicine” by the Quechua Indians of the Amazon. They regard it as a healer of body, mind & spirit, which enables its drinkers to purge both physical & spiritual toxins. Documented as a cure for everything from cancer to cocaine addiction, Ayahuasca is a way to clear emotional blocks, to gain a sense of inner peace & an enlightened perspective on life. This lively travelogue takes the reader along on the author`s psycho-spiritual odyssey through the rain forests of Peru & further to Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela & Ecuador where Ayahuasca is taken in the dark of night at ceremonies presided over by shamans who sing otherworldly songs that are both magical & healing. His Ayahuasca experiences ignite in him a renewed enchantment with life that leaves him with a burgeoning sense of self & an intimate connection with the natural world. ...

Iran is a country with global ambitions, an elaborate political culture, & enormous implications for world peace. How will its diversity of political positions resolve itself? Drawing on privileged access to Iranian society, Hooman Majd has spoken to ayatollahs, politicians & ordinary people to show that, despite the violence of the 2009 elections, the ideal of an Iranian republic is still alive. A personal, candid tour of the political landscape, ” The Ayatollahs` Democracy” is a powerful dispatch from a country at a historic turning point. ...

` In the gloom it came along the branches towards me, its round, hypnotic eyes blazing, its spoon-like ears turning to & fro independently like radar dishes.. .it was Lewis Carroll`s Jabberwocky come to life.. .one of the most incredible creatures I had ever been privileged to meet`. The fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar is home to woodlice the size of golf balls, moths the size of Regency fans & the Aye-Aye, a type of lemur held by local superstion to be an omen of death. But when Gerald Durrell visited the isl&, the destruction of the forests meant that the Aye-Aye & many other creatures were in danger of extinction. Told with his unique sense of humour & inimitable charm, Gerald Durrell`s ” The Aye Aye & I” is the final adventure from one Britain`s best loved conservationists. ...

Guide to walking or backpacking along the Ayrshire & Arran Coastal Paths, not far from Glasgow on the western coast of Scotl&, UK, passing through Girvan & Ayr & taking in the Isle of Arran from Ardrossan. Featuring 11 day stages across a 150-mile coastline full of beautiful sandy beaches & secluded coves, this guide to the Ayrshire & Arran Coastal Paths is a wonderful showcase of long-distance coastal walking at its finest. Historic sites including many castles passed along the way show the area`s rich past, & there are obvious links here to significant Scottish figures including Robert the Bruce & Robert Burns. The route is described in seven days on the Ayrshire mainland & a four-day tour round Arran & illustrated with fantastic photography of the area`s exceptional views & scenic beauty. Detailed information about the good public transport links, which make it possible to tackle the route in day or weekend stages over time, & also the accommodation options along the way. ...

` Curious` is perhaps not the first word you would use to label Essex. But `curiouser & curiouser` it becomes when you dig below the surface. Meet larger-than-life characters, including the one-time fattest man in England whose waist was wider than the height of an average man. & talking of big, discover the origin of Humpty Dumpty. Did you know that explorer David Livingstone, who trekked across Africa, got lost in Essex; that the Essex villain Dick Turpin was only identified because a relative refused to pay the cost of a `stamp`, or that St George saw off his dragon here? Surprising & bizarre tales abound if you dig a little deeper. & if you literally look below the surface in Essex, you`ll discover one of the most incredible Government `secrets` of all time. ...

Learn everything you need to know about the Ancient Aztecs, & some of the things they`d rather you didn`t find out! Packed full of facts & witty asides, this book, which

Includes:: a fold-out map & timeline, uses comic strips to explore a different theme or topic on every spread. Created by graphic novelist Isabel Greenberg & her sister, Imogen Greenberg, the Discover...series offers a fresh & accessible entry point to history for children 8+.

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