What lessons can we learn from the relationship between policy-makers and schools over the life of the ‘New’ Labour and its predecessor Conservative government? What happened to ‘Education, Education, Education’ as it travelled from political vision to classroom practice? What are the lasting legacies of 13 years of a reforming Labour government? And what are the key messages for a coalition government?These are the questions addressed to the architects of educational reform, their...

It would be reasonable to estimate that multiple hundreds of thousands of people have become followers of Jesus Christ as a result of the modern church-planting movement. One characteristic of the literature of this movement has been an almost singular focus on the individual who is sent out to lead the new congregation, rather than on the vital role of the sending or sponsoring church.Practically all the books are written with one target in mind: this individual leader, the pionee...

John Kendrick Bangs (1862-1922) was an American author, editor and satirist. 'The Ghost Club' is a lighthearted ghost story told by a prisoner who has been found guilty of burglary and the theft of a set of ornate silver teaspoons. His improbable story of how he came to be in possession of the spoons is extraordinary and charmingly engaging.

Being a True Account of Some of the Recent Adventures Beyond the Styx of the Late Hieronymus Carl Friedrich, Sometime Baron Munchausen of Bodenwerder, as originally reported for the Sunday Edition of the Gehenna Gazette by its special interviewer the late Mr. Ananias formerly of Jerusalem, and now first transcribed from the columns of that journal by J. K. Bangs,

In "Paste Jewels," John Kendrick Bangs crafts a whimsical yet incisive exploration of human vices and virtues through a collection of short stories. Using his signature blend of satire and wit, Bangs delves into the lives of his vividly drawn characters, each representing various facets of society's moral landscape. The literary style is characterized by playful language and sharp dialogue, reminiscent of the literary tradition of the late 19th century, which straddles realism and the fant...

*** Original and Unabridged Content. Made available by CLASSIC COLLECTION 600.***Synopsis:The premise of the book is that everyone who has ever died (up until the time in which the book is set, which seems to be about the time of its publication) has gone to Styx. This does not appear to be the conventional Hell described by Dante in The Inferno, but rather the Hades described in Greek myth (both of which had Styxes): a universal collecting pot for dead souls, regardless of...

The book begins with the ferryman Charon being startled & annoyed by the arrival of a houseboat on the Styx. At first afraid that the boat will put him out of business, he later finds out that he is actually to be appointed its janitor. What follows are 11 more stories which are set on the houseboat.

By the American author and satirist, and the creator of modern Bangsian fantasy, the school of fantasy writing that sets the plot wholly or partially in the afterlife. A fascinating, pulse-pounding, terrifying classic of ghost story lore, surely not to be missed!

If we could only get used to the idea that ghosts are perfectly harmless creatures, who are powerless to affect our well-being unless we assist them by giving way to our fears, we should enjoy the supernatural exceedingly, it seems to me. Coleridge, I think it was, was once asked by a lady if he believed in ghosts, and he replied, "No, madame; I have seen too many of them." Which is my case exactly. I have seen so many horrid visitants from other worlds that they hardly affect me at all, s...

Alice in Blunderland by John Kendrick Bangs is a witty and imaginative satirical fantasy that playfully reimagines the familiar world of wonder through a humorous and ironic lens. With his signature blend of clever dialogue, literary parody, and whimsical invention, Bangs crafts a story that both entertains and gently mocks the absurdities of logic, society, and human behavior. In this inventive narrative, a curious journey leads into a fantastical realm where expectations are inverted and...

In the stories, the protagonist, identified as the narrator, encounters various ghosts and spirits, each with their own unique quirks and personalities. Bangs employs satire and wit as he weaves amusing situations involving these otherworldly characters and explores the idea of the afterlife in a humorous light.Bangs was known for his wit and playful approach to the supernatural, and "Ghosts I Have Met and Some Others" exemplifies his skill in combining ghostly encounters with comedic stor...

The Idiot is anything but, yet that is how his fellow boarders at Mrs. Smithers Pedagog's home for single gentlemen see him. His brand of creative thought is dismissed as foolishness. And yet, it starts to get under their skin, because when you are beneath contempt, you can say what you please. Funny, clever, poignant and as relevant today as it was a hundred years ago, this is the first of John Kendrick Bangs' "Idiot" books.