Did you know Santa Claus is not the only Christmas gift-bringer in the world?As a matter of fact, they're Twelve Christmas Heroes that give children gifts each Christmas.Every year, Santa and other Christmas figures from around the world gather at a glorious castle for a meeting to discuss how things are going and how their annual trips went.Wouldn't you like to sit in on that secret meeting? One individual got that chance.Santa arrived early in town. He was...

A dark domestic comedy by one of English literature’s most distinctive and idiosyncratic authorsLife in the Ponsonby household is an emotional battleground, where tyrannical grandmother Sabine and her equally despotic daughter Hetta struggle to control the fate of the family. Caught in the crossfire are Sabine’s son John, a self-absorbed novelist; his five children, Clare, France, Chilton, Victor and Muriel; and Muriel’s beleagured governesses.When John’s d...

James Grout stars as a hapless vicar who discovers that life behind suburbia's net curtains is more exciting than he'd expectedAfter being mugged by a pair of pensioners outside the Darby & Joan Club, the Reverend Timothy Carswell has had enough of his rough, tough inner-city parish. Convinced that someone so meek would be better suited somewhere quieter, the Bishop packs him off to a nice, sedate, residential neighbourhood where nothing ever seems to happen.

In "Beside Still Waters," Arthur Christopher Benson delivers a poignant exploration of the interplay between spirituality and the natural world. Through evocative prose and reflective passages, Benson invites readers to contemplate the serenity and profound beauty inherent in the simple aspects of life. This work, which unfolds in a style that merges lyrical descriptions with contemplative commentary, resonates with the reader within the literary context of early 20th-century pastoral lite...

In "Cupid in Africa," Percival Christopher Wren weaves a rich tapestry of adventure, romance, and cultural exploration set against the backdrop of colonial Africa. The narrative, characterized by Wren's hallmark vivid prose and dynamic character development, presents a story that deftly balances humor with earnest reflections on love and the complexities of human relationships. Through the lens of an imaginative and sometimes satirical outlook, Wren examines the contrasts between Western i...

This beautifully illustrated, moving and revelatory book will inspire readers to see that it is often that which gives us the deepest sorrow in life that can bring us the greatest joy.'Welcome to my world. I have autism.'But A Painful Gift is not about my autism. It is about the struggle to be truly ourselves in the world. To be fully human, to touch people and to be touched by people in return.'Autism is a blessing, a gifted way of seeing the world. It is also deep...

In "Hero and Leander," Christopher Marlowe crafts a poignant narrative of tragic love set against the backdrop of Greek mythology. This narrative poem, primarily composed in elegant, rhythmic blank verse, explores the passionate yet doomed romance between Hero, a priestess of Venus, and Leander, a youth from Abydos. Marlowe's distinctive literary style merges classical themes with Elizabethan sensibilities, showcasing his gift for lush imagery and poignant emotional depth. The poem's explo...

In "The Poems and Prose of Ernest Dowson, With a Memoir by Arthur Symons," readers are introduced to the delicate musings of Dowson, a pivotal figure of the Decadent movement in late 19th-century literature. His work oscillates between vivid imaginations and somber reflections, marked by a lyrical style that exudes musicality and melancholy. Dowson's verses encapsulate themes of love, loss, and existential longing, often drawing on rich symbolism and intricate imagery that together create ...

Bringing together major archaeological research projects from Virginia to Alabama, this volume explores the rich prehistory of the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Contributors consider how the region’s warm weather, abundant water, and geography have long been optimal for the habitation of people beginning 50,000 years ago. They highlight demographic changes and cultural connections across this wide span of time and space.New data are provided here for many sites, including evidence fo...

Business English – schnell fit für den JobÜber 70 Minuten Hör- und Sprechtraining, um berufliche Präsentationen und Moderationen zu meisternZehn hörspielartige Dialogszenen mit den wichtigsten Gesprächssituationen in Präsentationen und ModerationenAbwechslungsreiche Übungen zum Vertiefen der gebräuchlichen Wendungen und AusdrückeAlle Hörtexte mit deutscher Übersetzung

Truth waits for eyes unclouded by longing.'Lao-Tzu (poet and philosopher)In this collection of short, contemplative, enlightening reflections, spiritual teacher and Quaker Christopher Goodchild, inspired by his own experiences, guides you through his spiritual and philosophical journey to his truest and most peaceful self. Written from a 'soul' perspective, the book reveals how, by looking beyond vulnerability to see innate strength, and searching beyond pain and turmoil to...

The Story of Putin is a thought-provoking anthology that brings together an eclectic mix of essays, analysis, and narratives from a diverse array of contributors, offering a multifaceted exploration of one of the most influential figures on the global stage. This collection traverses a variety of literary styles, from in-depth policy analysis to narrative storytelling, situating Vladimir Putin's influence within the broader context of contemporary geopolitical discourse. Noteworthy essays ...