This is a fresh and surprising account of Japan's culture from the 'opening up' of the country in the mid-nineteenth century to the present.It is told through the eyes of people who greeted this change not with the confidence and grasping ambition of Japan's modernizers and nationalists, but with resistance, conflict, distress.We encounter writers of dramas, ghost stories and crime novels where modernity itself is the tragedy, the ghoul and the bad guy; sur...

'A history that somehow manages to be at once succinct and sweeping: essential reading for anyone interested in this most fascinating of countries' - Tom Holland'The perfect introduction to [Japan's] intriguing society is Christopher Harding’s lively new A Short History of Japan... The book is short, yes – but its scope is long, deep and rich' - Rana Mitter, History Extra, History Books of the Year 2025In this enormously e...

Originally published in 1985, Imprisonment in England and Wales is an account of the changing functions and conditions of imprisonment in England and Wales from the Medieval period to the present day. It is designed both as a text for students and teachers of history, law and social science and as an introduction to the subject for more general readers and is one of the few attempts to provide an overall view of the institution of imprisonment in this country over a period of seve...

A captivating anthology of programmes, painting a multi-faceted portrait of a unique countryJapan is a land of complexity, contrast and contradictions. The world's third-largest economy, it is a powerhouse of innovation and a pioneer in technology, fashion and pop culture. But it also has a rich, ancient heritage and a deep reverence for custom, ritual and tradition. This illuminating 2-part radio collection traverses the different aspects of this fascinating count...

Brought to you by Penguin.This rich and enjoyable book by the acclaimed author of Japan Story explores the many ways in which Asia has influenced Europe and North America over centuries of tangled, dynamic encountersFrom the time of the ancient Greeks onwards the West's relationship with Asia consisted for the most part of outrageous tales of strange beasts and monsters, of silk and spices shipped over vast distances and an uneasy ...

(Schirmer Performance Editions). Claude Debussy dedicated "Children's Corner" to his daughter, Chou-Chou, when she was three years old. Some of the movements were inspired by her toys. The six lovely pieces expertly presented here by Christopher Harding are an excellent starting point for introducing late-intermediate to early-advanced piano students to impressionism. Includes a special appendix with suggested pedaling, a glossary of French terms, and audio recordings.

This book looks at the interplay between criminal and other branches of public law pursuing similar objectives (referred to as 'quasi-criminal law'). The need for clarifying the concepts and the interlink between criminal and quasi-criminal enforcement is a topic attracting a lot of discussion and debate both in academia and practice across Europe (and beyond). This volume adds to this debate by bringing to light the substantive and procedural problems stemming from the current parallel or...

Effective Leadership—It’s a ProcessGood leadership is about more than inspiring people. Effective leadership stands on two pillars: excellent people and efficient processes. Through well-tested models and a series of structured metrics, The Diamond Process will help you identify weak points in your work flow so that you can retroactively fix your organization and make it more efficient.Using the Diamond Process Model, you'll learn how to—•

Police Chief Jesse Stone finds himself in the crosshairs of a rich hedge fund manager dead set on making Paradise Jesse's personal hell, in this latest installment of Robert B. Parker's beloved series.Fresh off an acquittal in a multibillion-dollar fraud case, Ramsey Devlin doesn't think the law applies to him. This becomes apparent when Jesse finds him passed out, drunk, and on the side of the road in a McLaren worth more than most people's homes. After Devlin takes a swing at him ...

Jeff always wanted a new cell phone, and when he finds one in his new backyard after a rain storm things start getting weird. It all starts with a random number calling him in class, but then it gets really strange. When text messages start sending horrible messages about accidents and tragic mishaps, and they’re beginning to come true…

Step into the thrilling world of espionage and intrigue with our exclusive digital audiobook collection featuring "Advance Agent" by Christopher Anvil and "The Spy" by Richard Harding Davis.These gripping tales of covert operations, espionage, and international intrigue will transport you to the heart of the action. In "Advance Agent," Anvil weaves a captivating narrative of secret agents, double-crosses, and a race against time to save the world. With expertly crafted characters a...

A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020'Mightily impressive ... a marvellous read' Sunday TimesFrom the acclaimed author of Japan Story, this is the history of Japan, distilled into the stories of twenty remarkable individuals.The vivid and entertaining portraits in Chris Harding's enormously enjoyable new book take the reader from the earliest written accounts of Japan right through to the life of the curren...