The Irish struck out across America's frontiers, built its railroads, fought on both sides of the civil war, captured its major historic moments in print, paint and bronze, led many of its religious denominations, policed its streets, set up its banks, educated its masses, entertained America on its stages and screens and in its sporting arenas, and made ground-breaking contributions in science and engineering. This collection documents fifty Irish people who made an indelible mark on Amer...

Today's parents are increasingly replacing nursery rhymes with the latest pop songs, and fairy tales - now thought too scary for little ones - with cute stories about farmyard animals and talking trains.Until recently, weird tales of fairy curses and flesh-eating ogres were considered suitable bedtime reading. And the strange-sounding and sometimes violent rhymes we learned by rote were often taught to us in school. But have you ever asked yourself what on earth they were about? And what e...

From the ice-age recordings of moon cycles and the earliest calendars, to modern wristwatches and quantum clocks, time and its effects have always enthralled mankind. We've spent centuries developing new ways of measuring time, describing it and quantifying it, and such methods have given rise to some of the most technically and aesthetically beautiful devices ever invented. This book is a tribute to timekeeping in its many forms and takes in the most significant creations as well as count...

The entertaining and accessible guide to the life and work of Shakespeare, celebrating over 400 years of his legacy.Known the world over and translated into innumerable languages, Shakespeare’s plays are as eloquent and as relevant today as they were more than 400 years ago. His works have been a permanent feature on school curricula for years, but with thirty-eight plays, over 150 sonnets and numerous other poems, there’s such a wealth of material it’s no wonder w...

Death may be bleak but - rest in peace - there is nothing gloomy about this curious compendium of tales of the departed. Here is a book that looks at the funny side of one of life's certainties (the other being taxes ... about which nothing is amusing). With advice on planning your big finish and how to attract the crowds at your funeral, as well as inspirational anecdotes involving extremely wealthy animals, no headstone is left unturned in the quest for hilarity. From funeral facts and f...

'Uproarious and unflinching' Mail on Sunday'A truly incredible life story'The Sun'Most memorable . . . told in a voice as distinctive as his spoken one'Independent'Brims with his gift for genial anecdote'The Sunday Times* * *From the author of the bestselling Blowing the Bloody Doors Off, ...

The Signet Classics edition of William Shakespeare's controversial comedy.Featuring the tumultuous relationship of Petruchio and the headstrong Katherina, this popular comedy goes beyond courtship to explore what happens after a determined man marries a woman who refuses to be tamed.This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as:• An overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater• A special introduction to the play ...

The Top Ten BestsellerBlack holes. DNA. The Large Hadron Collider. Ever had that sneaking feeling that you are missing out on some truly spectacular science?You do? Well, fear not, for help is at hand.Ben Miller was working on his Physics PhD at Cambridge when he accidentally became a comedian. But first love runs deep, and he has returned to his roots to share with you all his favourite bits of science. This is the stuff you really...

King Richard the Second is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to be written in approximately 1595. It is based on the life of King Richard II of England and is the first part of a tetralogy, referred to by scholars as the Henriad, followed by three plays concerning Richard's successors: Henry IV, part 1, Henry IV, part 2, and Henry V. It may not have been written as a stand-alone work.Although the First Folio (1623) edition of Shakespeare's works lists the play as a history pla...

Top ten Sunday Times Bestseller‘Engaging, ambitious and creative’ GuardianWhere are we? Are we alone? Who are we? Why are we here? What is our future?Human Universe tackles some of the greatest questions that humans have asked to try and understand the very nature of ourselves and the Universe in which we live.Through the endless leaps of human minds, it explores the extraordinary ...

John Ford (1586-1637) was an English playwright and poet whose interest in aberrant psychology helped him create very unique, and very successful works. After a period of major collaboration with various playwrights, from about 1621 to 1625, Ford began working independently; writing plays for theatrical companies like the King's Men at the Blackfriars. Following the literary reign of such figures as Jonson, Marlowe and Shakespeare, Ford felt the need to shock and intrigue audiences with ne...