This is an in-depth study of the intellectual, technical, and artistic encounters between Europe and China in the late eighteenth century, focusing on the purposeful acquisition of information and images that characterized a direct engagement with the idea of "China."The central figure in this story is Henri-Léonard Bertin (1720–1792), who served as a minister of state under Louis XV and, briefly, Louis XVI. Both his official position and personal passion for all things Chinese pla...

Spanning from the classical sculpture of Ancient Rome to contemporary performance art, this vibrantly illustrated guide provides a rich overview of art history, covering many topics explored in a history of art degree. Learn to distinguish Impressionism from Post-Impressionism, analyze a painting's brush strokes and discover the influences of Pablo Picasso.Written by expert art historian John Finlay, A Degree in a Book: Art History is presented in an attractive landscape f...

Moving from the Near East and Middle East (or Western Asia) across to the Pacific and Oceania by way of India, China and Japan, this beautifully illustrated book looks at 100 of the most fascinating works of art to have been created throughout this vast geographical area. Whether it be an example of indigenous art, a Japanese woodblock print, an architectural gem, such as Angkor Wat, a fine porcelain or alabaster vase, an incredible item of jewellery or a delicate and intricate miniature P...

Spanning from the classical sculpture of Ancient Rome to contemporary performance art, this audiobook provides a rich overview of art history, covering many topics explored in a history of art degree. Learn to distinguish Impressionism from Post-Impressionism, analyse a painting's brush strokes and discover the influences of Pablo Picasso.Written by expert art historian John Finlay, A Degree in a Book: Art History features iconic works of art through the ages. Readers will...

Stories of war and conflict form the backbone of much of the Western literary canon, portraying a certain image of heroism, stoicism, and survival in the face of violence. War and Imagination challenges the canon with essays, short stories, and a wide variety of perspectives.Paying particular attention to the twentieth century and prioritizing the writings of civilians, the works highlighted in War and Imagination offer an opportunity to challenge representations ...

This program features multicast narration.**A USA Today Bestseller!From “one of the genre’s most exciting voices” (E! News) comes one of the year’s most-anticipated thrillers.**For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has relived that terrible night. The car door ripping open. The crushing blow to the head. The hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend Ali’s piercing scream as she is taken.With no trace of Ali or the car, a...

A gripping psychological BBC drama series about a probation officer who uncovers an abuse scandalWhen the body of 17-year-old Jackie Shaw is found in a shallow grave, it sends shockwaves through her small West Yorkshire community. Rumours of murder and systematic sexual abuse are rife, and the town's MP, Samuel Stokes, is adding fuel to the fire with his campaign against a so-called 'Asian grooming gang'.Probation officer Rachel Collier deals with paedophil...

Bloomsbury presents If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay, read by John Pirhalla, Paul Dateh and Helen Laser.From the critically acclaimed author of Every Last Fear and The Night Shift, a gripping thriller about one young man's search for the truth after an inexplicable crime leaves his world torn apart.The car door ripped open. The crushing blow to the head. Hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend’s piercing scream…For the past five years, Ryan Richa...

A new novel from the Booker Prize–winning Pat Barker, author of the Regeneration trilogy, that unforgettably portrays London during the Blitz and reaffirms her place as a top-ranked British novelistLondon, the Blitz, Autumn 1940. As the bombs fall on the blacked-out city, ambulance driver Elinor Brooke races from bomb sites to hospitals in order to save the lives of injured survivors. She works alongside former friend Kit Neville while her husband, Paul Tarrant, works as an air-rai...

**Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of Noonday by Pat Barker, read by Juliet Stevenson, Stephen Boxer, John Sackville, Anne Reid & Finlay RobertsonFrom the Booker Prize-winning and Women's Prize-shortlisted author of The Silence of the GirlsThe final novel in Pat Barker's acclaimed 'Life Class' trilogy - an unforgettable story of art and war, from one of our greatest writers on war and the human heart'Bold, hard-hitti...

**From the bestselling author of If Something Happens to Me , which AudioFile called "thoroughly engaging from beginning to end," comes one of the year’s most anticipated thrillers.This program features an author's note and acknowledgments read by the author.**In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of P...