As the system of governance and delivery of social welfare in the UK radically changes, this important new book argues that the extent of this change is such that it could be considered a fundamental transformation or even a revolution. It shows how a new public governance perspective has replaced the dominance of new public management, reflecting the increasingly plural and fragmented nature of public policy implementation. Drawing on examples across a range of policy areas it assesses ho...

In "Res Judicatæ," Augustine Birrell presents a profound exploration of the nature of justice and the implications of legal judgments within the fabric of society. Written in a style marked by eloquent prose and a keen philosophical perspective, the book deftly navigates the intricacies of the law while employing rich historical context and engaging anecdotes. Birrell's ability to weave together personal reflections and legal principles offers readers a unique lens through which to view t...

"Guide to the Bayeux Tapestry" by Francis Birrell offers an insightful exploration of one of the most significant pieces of medieval art. The tapestry, which vividly depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England, serves as both a historical document and a work of art. Birrell's analysis delves into the intricate details of the tapestry's imagery, providing context and interpretation that enrich the viewer's understanding. The guide is essential for anyone interested in me...

In 2012, Carolyn Birrell flew down to Georgia to kidnap her mother.Fay had been living by herself since her husband’s death in 2000 and clung fiercely to her independence. She went to church on Sundays, paid her bills on time, and volunteered at Vacation Bible School every summer. But at 79 years old, she’d begun showing escalating signs of early-stage dementia, each one making it harder for her daughter to discount as simple signs of aging.After receiving calls from Fay’s ...

Examines recent evidence of a growing symmetry in the operation of devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This book makes one of the first systematic and detailed comparisons of the operation of the devolved institutions and machinery of governance. It uses a comparative approach to explore the key workings of government.

This book, first published in 1982, was the first translation of the Chinese classic Yü-t-‘ai hsin-yung – the unique anthology of love poems, compiled in AD 545. This traces the development of love poetry from the second century BC to its full flowering in the fifth and sixth centuries AD. Dr Birrell’s incisive introductory essay provides a concise survey of the historical and literary setting to the poems and explains the conventions governing courtly love poetry. In particular, ...

Caroline and Matthew have been nearly inseparable for as long as they both can remember. That is, until the untimely call of war summons Matthew far away to the battlefields of Vlaysar.With grand designs on an epic adventure, he promises to safely return to Caroline and Meadowshire a hero. But, seriously wounded on the battlefield and left for dead, those delusions of grandeur quickly fade as he, unbeknownst to Caroline, slowly and painfully makes his way home.Matthew's ret...

One of the world's top experts on betrayal looks at why we often can't see it right in front of our facesIf the cover-up is worse than the crime, blindness to betrayal can be worse than the betrayal itself. Whether the betrayer is an unfaithful spouse, an abusive authority figure, an unfair boss, or a corrupt institution, we often refuse to see the truth order to protect ourselves. This book explores the fascinating phenomenon of how and why we ignore or deny betra...

This book presents a comprehensive review of the subject of gravitational effects in quantum field theory. Although the treatment is general, special emphasis is given to the Hawking black hole evaporation effect, and to particle creation processes in the early universe. The last decade has witnessed a phenomenal growth in this subject. This is the first attempt to collect and unify the vast literature that has contributed to this development. All the major technical results are presented,...

What happens when an English teacher goes into labour during a Toronto high school lockdown?High school English teacher Elise loves teaching Shakespeare. She is also very pregnant. She’s trapped in a classroom with her Grade 12 students during a lockdown. Anthony, the cause of the lockdown, is roaming the halls with a knife in search of some solace, consumed by thoughts of his best friend Samantha, who is in peril. Maria, the school's counselor, is second-guessing ...

“Gripping, gorgeously written.” —Joanna Quinn, author of The Whalebone Theatre“Extraordinary.” —Elizabeth O'Connor, author of Whale Fall“Vivid...Asking what it means to make art in an emergency.” —Eleanor Catton, author of Birnam Wood and The LuminariesPortrait of a Lady on Fire meets The Safekeep in this gripping debut that reckons with art forgery, desire...

From the moment he received a cine-camera at age 10, Harry Birrell devoted his life to documenting the world around him, including his enlistment and his adventures serving in the Burma, Nepal and India. Not only did he capture the war as he saw it, but he kept copious diaries from 1939 to 1945 so that his family would know what he had experienced in the event of his death. These unique record of the campaign are compelling, insightful, funny, charming, moving - all in equal measure.