Alsace-Lorraine was ceded by France to Germany in 1871 after the Franco-German war, then retroceded to France in 1919 after the First World War. It was again ceded to Germany in 1940 during the Second World War and finally retroceded to France in 1945. Today, Alsace-Lorraine is a 5,067 square mile territory in France. However, as you'll find out, it did not use to be so. Before the wars and the back-and-forth ownership between France and Germany, Alsace-Lorraine was Alsace and Lorraine, tw...

Charles the Bold was the last Duke of Burgundy of the House of Valois. Born in 1433, his dream was to be crowned king by declaring the territory of Burgundy an independent kingdom. He increased his land through purchase and conquest, leading to serious unrest throughout western Europe. His enmity with Rene II of Lorraine led to his early death in 1477.

"Charles the Bold, Last Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477" by Ruth Putnam offers a compelling exploration of the life and times of one of the most significant figures in European history. The book delves into Charles's ambitious reign, his efforts to consolidate power, and his relentless pursuit of a greater Burgundian state. Putnam paints a vivid portrait of Charles as a complex leader, whose military campaigns and political maneuvers shaped the landscape of 15th-century Europe, ultimately lead...

On St. Andrew's Eve, in the year 1433, the good people of Dijon were abroad, eager to catch what glimpses they might of certain stately functions to be formally celebrated by the Duke of Burgundy. The mere presence of the sovereign in the capital of his duchy was in itself a gala event from its rarity. Various cities of the dominions agglomerated under his sway claimed his attentions successively. His residence was now here and now there, without long tarrying anywhere. His coming was usua...

William James (1842–1910) was both a philosopher and a psychologist, nowadays most closely associated with the pragmatic theory of truth. The essays in this Companion deal with the full range of his thought as well as other issues, including technical philosophical issues, religious speculation, moral philosophy and political controversies of his time. The relationship between James and other philosophers of his time, as well as his brother Henry, are also examined. By placing James in his...

The Count of the Saxon Shore; or The Villa in Vectis unfolds a rich tapestry of narratives that transport readers back to the Late Roman Empire, exploring themes of power, cultural intersection, and societal transformation. This anthology skillfully blends historical richness with captivating storytelling, inviting readers to traverse varied literary landscapes, from dramatic dialogues to reflective prose. Within its pages, diversity emerges, showcasing a spectrum of styles that reflect th...

Throughout his diverse and highly influential career, Hilary Putnam was famous for changing his mind. As a pragmatist he treated philosophical “positions” as experiments in deliberate living. His aim was not to fix on one position but to attempt to do justice to the depth and complexity of reality. In this new collection, he and Ruth Anna Putnam argue that key elements of the classical pragmatism of William James and John Dewey provide a framework for the most progressive and forward-looki...

This collection of classic and contemporary essays in philosophy of language offers a concise introduction to the field for students in graduate and upper-division undergraduate courses. It contains some of the most important basic sources in philosophy of language, including a number of classic essays by philosophers such as Frege, Russell, Wittgenstein, Kripke, Grice, Davidson, Strawson, Austin, and Putnam, as well as more recent contributions by scholars including John McDowell, Stephen...

The bestselling, Man Booker Prize-winning novel, a breathtaking feat of storytelling where everything is connected, but nothing is as it seems ...**"A true achievement. Catton has built a lively parody of a 19th-century novel, and in so doing created a novel for the 21st, something utterly new. The pages fly." —**New York Times Book ReviewIt is 1866, and Walter Moody has come to stake his claim in New Zealand's booming gold rush. O...

In this major new work, Richard J. Bernstein argues that many of the most important themes in philosophy during the past one hundred and fifty years are variations and developments of ideas that were prominent in the classical American pragmatists: Charles S. Peirce, William James, John Dewey and George H Mead. Pragmatism begins with a thoroughgoing critique of the Cartesianism that dominated so much of modern philosophy. The pragmatic thinkers reject a sharp dichotomy between subject and ...

What does it mean to lead a moral life?In their first extended study of moral philosophy, Judith Butler offers a provocative outline for a new ethical practice—one responsive to the need for critical autonomy yet grounded in the opacity of the human subject.Butler takes as their starting point one’s ability to answer the questions “What have I done?” and “What ought I to do?” They show that these questions can be answered only by asking a prior question, “Who is this ‘I’ wh...

The work of Henri Bergson, the foremost French philosopher of the early twentieth century, is not usually explored for its political dimensions. Indeed, Bergson is best known for his writings on time, evolution, and creativity. This book concentrates instead on his political philosophy—and especially on his late masterpiece, The Two Sources of Morality and Religion—from which Alexandre Lefebvre develops an original approach to human rights.We tend to think of human rights ...