‘Most directors have one film for which they are known or possibly two’, Francis Ford Coppola has said. ‘Akira Kurosawa has eight or nine.’ Through his many masterpieces such as Rashomon, Seven Samurai, High and Low, Yojimbo, Kagemusha and Ran, Kurosawa’s (1910–1998) work has influenced the most acclaimed directors working today, from George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to Martin Scorsese. His groundbreaking innovations in both cinematogr...

Peter Wilding offers an arresting answer, plotting out a new course for Britain's troubled relationship with Europe. He channels the pride Britain draws from its heritage through the prejudice Britain has historically had against Europe, and proposes a new popular-based platform for British influence in Europe: 'smart power'. Wilding identifies how British leaders from Pitt to Cameron have attempted to use exactly this 'smart power' in their approach to Europe. He tells the story of their ...

The opalescent deserts of the American Southwest have become romantic icons in the public imagination through the words of writers, the images of artists and photographers, and the visual storytelling of filmmakers. In this spirited, personal, beautifully written book, Peter Wild explores the lives and works of sixteen writers whose words have shaped our visions of the opal desert.Wild begins with Cabeza de Vaca, whose Relación of his desert wanderings sent treasure-hungry...

As he did with Noise: Fiction Inspired by Sonic Youth, editor Peter Wild has pulled together an eclectic list of talented writers who take their cue from one of the world’s best loved bands—The Smiths. Please is sure to please fans of The Smiths, Morrisey, and guitarist Johnny Marr—as well as contributors such as Nic Kelman, Willy Vlautin, and Catherine O’Flynn.

For more than twenty-five years, the antimelodic "noise" of Sonic Youth has assaulted us, exhilarated us, inspired us. Why?Katherine Dunn says it's because they operate in the foggy world between the real and the surreal. Mary Gaitskill says that Sonic Youth caught her, years ago, when she was falling. J. Robert Lennon says it's because Sonic Youth rip it apart. Emily Maguire was hooked because once she was in love with chaos.Their sound is caustic, elemental, nihilistic—an...

This volume presents the papers from the seventh North-European Symposium for Archaeological Textiles (NESAT), held in Edinburgh in 1999. The themes covered demonstrate a variety of scholarship that will encourage anyone working in this important and stimulating area of archaeology. From the golden robes of a Roman burial, to the fashionable Viking in Denmark, through to the early modern period and more technological aspects of textile-research, these twenty-four papers (five of which are ...

Naked we come into the world, but we are extraordinarily unlucky if naked we leave it. It is a human reaction to cover the dead with textiles. This volume presents the results of new and ground-breaking research in the UK and abroad on clothing and textiles in the context of death and burial in Classical Antiquity, from the fifth century BC to the fifth century AD. The geographical scope encompasses the Mediterranean, as well as the European, Asian, Egyptian and North African lands that we...

Ever wondered whether plant-based commercial products really are the healthy option? Or why some people consider margarine to be plastic? And do we really need to supplement our diet with extra vitamins? Is paying more for organic foods worth the price?Consumers who want to make informed food choices may do so on purported health claims or ethical grounds, but the information is often confusing and contradictory. The authors explore common perceptions about different foods, delving...

The structure of a food influences the way it is transformed during processing and digestion. This in turn has an impact on nutrient bioaccessibility (release) and digestibility, and subsequently on the physiological response and health of the individual who consumes that food.Although evidence exists on the health benefits associated with the inclusion of certain lipid-rich foods (e.g. nuts, dairy products and fish) in the diet, the mechanisms that explain the physiological effect...

A perfect depiction of fin-de-siècle decadence, Oscar Wilde's only novel cuts beneath the polished surface to the murky depths of Victorian high society.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, pocket-sized classics bound in real cloth with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. Featuring an afterword by the playwright and actor Peter Harness.Dorian Gray is young,...

A vintage BBC suspense thriller from the creator of The Archers and Dick BartonWhen David Conway attends a birthday party for his beautiful fiancée Pat, he expects a few drinks and a good time, but what he discovers is that his beloved is in fact in terrible danger. Following the clues, and a tip off about her missing bracelet, David and Pat are led first to a steel works, then a circus, but instead of finding the bracelet, they uncover both a body and a r...

A fashionable young man sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty in Oscar Wilde's fascinating gothic tale.The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde’s only full-length novel, is the enduringly eerie story of a naïve and irresistible young man lured by decadent Lord Henry Wotton into a life of depravity. Though Dorian is steeped in sin, his face remains perfect, unlined as years pass—while only his portrait, locked away, reveals the blackness of his soul. T...