This is a rich novel, narrated by young Paddy Maguire, of his life growing into young adulthood in a Dublin slum of the late 1930s and 40s Ireland. Consider it a Dublin version of The Catcher in the Rye with lustful, lusty, thirsty, hard-working Paddy--a character as memorable as Holden Caulfield or Studs Lonigan--drolly detailing his adventurous adolescence. Goodbye to the Hill tells the story of a young man desperate to escape the confines of poverty and stifling mores, yet is an uplifti...

Encounter the scariest clowns and freakiest curiosities under the big top, in stories by Stephen Graham Jones, Laird Barron, Priya Sharma, and others.With an introduction from Katherine DunnLadies and gentlemen, step right up for fifteen tales of terrifying rides, supernatural sideshows, and petrifying performers guaranteed to keep you up all night—with Hugo and Bram Stoker Award–winning editor Ellen Datlow as the ringmaster.In Stephen Grah...

A Bed in the sticks, Lee Dunne's sequel to Goodbye to the Hill opens with the hero, Paddy Maguire returning to Ireland after a short and dismal sojourn to England. He is bowed but undeaten and with his usual optimism embarks on an exploration of stage craft with a touring theatrical company as it winds its way through the small towns of 1950s rural Ireland. Paddy's theatrics on and off the stage, make for a warm, funny and insightful perspective on the times and the growing pains of a man/...

Few people have made greater contributions to protecting and improving the environment than the scientist, teacher, activist Dr. Barry Commoner. For half a century, Dr. Commoner has been an international leader in the environmental movement. On the occasion of his eightieth birthday, a symposium was held at which invited speakers discussed his contributions to a wide range of environmental issues. This book, collecting many of the invited papers, provides fascinating insights into the life...

A guide to current practice in assessment, particularly for those professionals coming to terms with new pressures on their traditional teaching practices. Increased use of IT, flexible assessment methods and quality assurance all affect assessment, and the need to diversify and adapt traditional assessment practices to suit new modes of learning is clearer than ever.The Student Assessment Handbook looks at the effectiveness of traditional methods in the present day and pro...

"The Cotton Dust Papers" is the story of the 50-year struggle for recognition in the U.S. of this pernicious occupational disease. The authors contend that byssinosis could have and should have been recognized much sooner, as a great deal was known about the disease as early as the 1930s. Using mostly primary sources, the authors explore three instances from the 1930s to the 1960s in which evidence suggested the existence of brown lung in the mills, yet nothing was done. What the story of ...

In "Hortus Vitae," Vernon Lee crafts a poignant exploration of life and mortality through the lens of a richly allegorical garden. Utilizing a lushly descriptive literary style, Lee immerses readers in a tapestry of nature that serves as a metaphor for the human experience. The work is marked by its philosophical depth, with reflections on the transient beauty of life interwoven with Gothic elements'—a hallmark of Lee's broader literary contributions during the late 19th century. Its thema...

In "The Spirit of Rome," Vernon Lee deftly weaves an enchanting tapestry of history, art, and atmosphere that captures the essence of the Eternal City. Through a series of evocative essays, Lee transcends mere description, employing a lyrical prose style that resonates with the rhythms of Italian life and culture. Set against the backdrop of Italy's rich historical narrative, the book mingles personal reflections with profound philosophical insights, exploring the interplay between place a...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERAn extraordinary insight into life under one of the world’s most ruthless and secretive dictatorships – and the story of one woman’s terrifying struggle to avoid capture/repatriation and guide her family to freedom.As a child growing up in North Korea, Hyeonseo Lee was one of millions trapped by a secretive and brutal communist regime. Her home on the border with China gave her some exposure to the world beyond the confines of the Hermit Kingdom and...

In "Laurus Nobilis: Chapters on Art and Life," Vernon Lee embarks on an intellectual exploration that fuses aesthetics with autobiographical musings, revealing the integral relationship between art and the human experience. Lee's prose is marked by its lyrical precision and philosophical depth, offering readers insights into the nature of beauty and creativity through a series of essays that transcend conventional art criticism. Set against the backdrop of the late 19th and early 20th cent...

In "Vanitas: Polite Stories," Vernon Lee artfully navigates the delicate interplay of beauty, decay, and the complexities of human existence within a collection of intricately woven narratives. Written in a rich, languid prose style typical of the fin de siècle period, each story reveals a nuanced exploration of aestheticism and moral ambiguity. Thematically, Lee engages with the concept of 'vanitas,' reflecting on the transient nature of life and the perils of excessive beauty, urging rea...

In René Girard, Theology, and Popular Culture, fifteen contributors consider how Girard’s mimetic theory can be used to uncover and probe the theological depths of popular culture. Creative and critical engagement with Girard’s theory enables the contributors to offer fresh and exciting interpretations of movies (The Devil Wears Prada, Mean Girls, Star Wars), television (Hoarders, Cobra Kai), classical literature and graphic novels, and issues ranging from anorexia to social media. The res...