Most people have heard of the Celts—the elusive, ancient tribal people who resided in present-day England, Ireland, Scotland and France. Paradoxically characterized as both barbaric and innocent, the Celts appeal to the modern world as a symbol of a bygone era, a world destroyed by the ambition of empire and the spread of Christianity throughout Western Europe. Despite the pervasive cultural and literary influence of the Celts, shockingly little is known of their way of life and beliefs, b...

"When we think of ancient Rome, it's impossible not to think of Christianity, one of its most notable exports—but what if it hadn't been? This is the question provoked by classicist Philip Freeman in Julian, an appealing new entry in Yale's Ancient Lives series, which tells the story of the old faith's last imperial torchbearer."—Anna Heyward, New York Times Book ReviewFlavius Claudius Julianus, or Julian the Apostate, ruled Rome as sole emperor f...

The Most Wonderful Christmas Tales Of All Time is an exquisite anthology that captures the heartwarming essence and infinite diversity of storytelling inspired by the yuletide spirit. Encompassing a range of genres from classic drama to fairy tales and transformative narratives, this collection splendidly showcases tales that explore themes of generosity, hope, and the magic of Christmas. The eclectic array of stories speaks to the classical, romantic, and even modernist literary contexts,...

From the acclaimed author of Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Hannibal comes a vivid new biography of Marco Polo and his journey along the Silk Road, as recorded during his remarkable Travels and other medieval sources. It tells the story of his life and times from boyhood in Venice, his travels across Asia to China as a teenager, his years and adventures at the court of the great Kublai Khan, and his long voyage home to Italy. Along the way he encountered...

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?The theme ...

Step into the visionary worlds that shaped modern imagination with Classic Golden Age Science Fiction Short Stories — a powerful anthology featuring some of the most influential voices in speculative fiction.This timeless collection brings together unforgettable works from Kurt Vonnegut, Ray Bradbury, Philip K. Dick, Robert Sheckley, Murray Leinster, and H. G. Wells — pioneers who defined the Golden Age of science fiction and forever changed the landscape of literature. From dystop...

How university leaders' empowering approach to resiliency was tested by the dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial unrest.In 2020, some higher education leaders successfully navigated the unprecedented challenges the year presented and emerged as resilient agents of change in their academic communities. Freeman A. Hrabowski III was one of many leaders who followed the science during the pandemic and followed his heart in the fight for racial justice, even ...

**NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the acclaimed author of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and one of the world’s greatest storytellers comes “an insistently metaphysical mind-bender” (The New Yorker) about a teenager on the run and a deceptively simple old man.Now with a new introduction by the author.**Here we meet fifteen-year-old runaway Kafka Tamura and the elderly Nakata, who is drawn to Kafka for reasons that he cannot fathom. As their paths converge, acclaime...

This special collection features all three titles in the award-winning trilogy: Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.This collection also includes extracts from The Book of Dust series: La Belle Sauvage and The Secret Commonwealth.Now a major critically acclaimed BBC series.**Set against the dreaming spires of Jordan College in an alternate Oxford ...

Kafka Tamura runs away from home at fifteen, under the shadow of his father's dark prophesy.The aging Nakata, tracker of lost cats, who never recovered from a bizarre childhood affliction, finds his pleasantly simplified life suddenly turned upside down.As their parallel odysseys unravel, cats converse with people; fish tumble from the sky; a ghost-like pimp deploys a Hegel-spouting girl of the night; a forest harbours soldiers apparently un-aged since Worl...

For fans of BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD, fairy tale and magic are weaved together in sparse language that belies a flooring emotional punch.'Strange and beautiful. Imagine the offspring of The Wind-up Bird Chronicle with The Virgin Suicides' GUARDIAN*'*Genuinely affecting. A story of empathy, collaboration and sharing truths' FINANCIAL TIMESTranslated by Philip Gabriel, a t...

The second Ciaphas Cain omnibusConfronted with the powers of Chaos and hordes of alien foes, our intrepid commissar seeks to sidestep danger and talk his way out of trouble.READ IT BECAUSEThe Imperial hero returns in a second set of tongue-in-cheek memoirs relating his greatest victories against savage greenskins, monstrous tyranids and the greatest Chaos invasion in ten thousand years…DESCRIPTIONThe l...