Martin Heidegger (Routledge Critical Thinkers)

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Martin Heidegger (Routledge Critical Thinkers)
by Timothy Clark

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Although Martin Heidegger seems to be most often remembered today for his collaboration with the Nazis, his revolutionary philosophical ideas provide the seeds for the postmodern philosophies of thinkers as diverse as Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, and Hans Georg Gadamer. While most studies of Heidegger focus on the philosophy of Being (Dasein) he espoused in the monumental Being and Time, Clark (The Theory of Inspiration) offers the first study of Heidegger's philosophy of language and literature. Through a close reading of Heidegger's famous lecture, "The Origin of the Work of Art," and his "elucidations" on the German Romantic poet Helderlin, Clark demonstrates that poetry resists the domination and control of traditional metaphysics, opening up its own space for knowing the world and being in it. Clark nimbly explains Heidegger's difficult philosophical concepts with a series of boxed illustrations and chapter summaries. In spite of Clark's efforts, though, his book requires some previous acquaintance with Heidegger, postmodernity, literary criticism, and philosophy. Since the book is narrowly focused, only academic libraries and public libraries that serve a large college population should purchase it. For public libraries, Rediger Safranski's Martin Heidegger: Between Good and Evil (LJ 3/15/98) remains the standard study. Henry L. Carrigan Jr., Lancaster, PA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Heidegger was a uniquely gifted practitioner of the difficult art of reading. But his achievements have been overlooked or neglected or drastically misunderstood by mainstream literary theorists and critics. Timothy Clark's accessible, neat and reliable introduction goes a long way towards setting the record straight.
–Jonathan Ree, Middlesex University

Timothy Clark's Martin Heidegger is an intelligent, highly accessible introduction to the German philosopher's complex intellectual trajectory. In its focus on Heidegger's engagement with art and language, Clark's book will be of particular interest to students of aesthetics, literature, and theory.
–Michael Eskin, Columbia University

Product Description
The influence of Heidegger's on current thought has been pervasive. In reaction to Enlightenment ideas, he presents a view of the modern world as destructive of nature, community, tradition, individuality, and more. His writings have influenced such central social and literary thinkers as Derrida and Foucault.
This volume is the first thorough introduction to his work on language and literature. Heidegger's reputation for being difficult has scared off many who would have otherwise profited from a knowledge of his work. This guide is written with these people in mind. It is "student-friendly" and presents Heidegger's ideas in a clear and comprehensible manner. Understanding Heidegger is essential for anyone who wants to understand current literary theory, and this guide is essential for anyone seeking to understand Heidegger.

About the Author
Timothy Clark teaches in the English department of the University of Durham.

Medieval Africa, 1250-1800

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Medieval Africa, 1250-1800
by Roland Oliver, Anthony Atmore

Review
"...an impressive study-copiously illustrated with detailed maps...a valuable tool for teachers eager and willing to introduce their students to the premodern history of Africa. Africanist scholars will find much that is useful there. This is a book I will make my graduate students working in Africa own." Religious Studies Review

"Only a handful of other scholars can match the author's master of historiography and source materials available before the mid-1990s." Historian

Product Description
This radically revised and updated companion volume to the authors' well-known Africa since 1800 (now in its fourth edition) takes African history from about 1250 AD, when African societies were expanding their political and economic scope, and when Islamic influences were already reaching across the Sahara and down the Indian Ocean coastline. It continues through the period of early European contact from the fifteenth century onward, with much emphasis on expanding Atlantic trade.

Book Description
This radically revised and updated companion volume to the authors' well-known Africa since 1800 (now in its fourth edition) takes African history from about 1250 AD, when African societies were expanding their political and economic scope, and when Islamic influences were already reaching across the Sahara and down the Indian Ocean coastline. It continues through the period of early European contact from the fifteenth century onward, with much emphasis on expanding Atlantic trade.

History of the Latin Language

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The Blackwell History of the Latin Language by James Clackson, Geoffrey Horrocks

Review
“This book is the best single volume work on the Latin language. A comprehensive survey of the major topics in Latin linguistics, it is valuable not only to specialists in that field but also to Latin literary scholars, and to students of Indo-European and Romance historical linguistics generally.”
Philip Burton, University of Birmingham

“The…hefty Blackwell History of the Latin Language…The authors focus on the evolution of the sounds, vocabulary, word and sentence structure…over the centuries.”
Chicago Tribune

“[The authors] set the tone … with an honesty that is … appreciated … .Marvelous treatment of … understudied languages … .Carefully, admirably, proofread … .Recommended.” Choice

Review
“This book is the best single volume work on the Latin language. A comprehensive survey of the major topics in Latin linguistics, it is valuable not only to specialists in that field but also to Latin literary scholars, and to students of Indo-European and Romance historical linguistics generally.”
Philip Burton, University of Birmingham

“The…hefty Blackwell History of the Latin Language…The authors focus on the evolution of the sounds, vocabulary, word and sentence structure…over the centuries.”
Chicago Tribune

“[The authors] set the tone … with an honesty that is … appreciated … .Marvelous treatment of … understudied languages … .Carefully, admirably, proofread … .Recommended.” Choice

Product Description
The Blackwell History of the Latin Language charts the development of Latin from its prehistoric origins in the Indo-European language family, through the earliest texts, to the creation of the Classical Language of Cicero and Vergil, and examines the impact of the spread of spoken Latin through the Roman Empire. Accessible and intelligent, this is the first book in English in more than 50 years to provide comprehensive coverage of the history of the language.

The authors make use of contemporary work in linguistics, particularly the insights gained from modern sociolinguistic research, to provide up-to-date commentary on key linguistic issues in the field. Offering a full account of the language's transformation in the context of the rise and fall of Ancient Rome, they examine a number of broad topics, including the impact of Greek, the linguistic implications of Christianity, the tension between written and spoken regional varieties of the language, the lives and social positions of Latin speakers, and the fate of the language in late antiquity and beyond.

The book includes maps and glossary as well as fully translated and annotated sample texts that illustrate the different stages of the language. Readable and fully up-to-date, The Blackwell History of the Latin Language is ideal for both students and scholars of Latin, linguistics, and ancient history.

Book Description
The Blackwell History of the Latin Language charts the development of Latin from its prehistoric origins in the Indo-European language family, through the earliest texts, to the creation of the Classical Language of Cicero and Vergil, and examines the impact of the spread of spoken Latin through the Roman Empire. Accessible and intelligent, this is the first book in English in more than 50 years to provide comprehensive coverage of the history of the language. This text makes use of contemporary work in linguistics, particularly the insights gained from modern sociolinguistic research, to provide up-to-date commentary on key linguistic issues in the field. Offering a full account of the language's transformation in the context of the rise and fall of Ancient Rome, this text looks at a number of broad topics, including the impact of Greek, the linguistic implications of Christianity, the tension between written and spoken regional varieties of the language, the lives and social positions of Latin speakers, and the fate of the language in late antiquity and beyond. This text includes maps and glossary as well as fully translated and annotated sample texts that illustrate the different stages of the language. Readable and fully up-to-date, A History of the Latin Language is an ideal text for both students and scholars.

From the Back Cover
The Blackwell History of the Latin Language charts the development of Latin from its prehistoric origins in the Indo-European language family, through the earliest texts, to the creation of the Classical Language of Cicero and Vergil, and examines the impact of the spread of spoken Latin through the Roman Empire. Accessible and intelligent, this is the first book in English in more than 50 years to provide comprehensive coverage of the history of the language.

The authors make use of contemporary work in linguistics, particularly the insights gained from modern sociolinguistic research, to provide up-to-date commentary on key linguistic issues in the field. Offering a full account of the language's transformation in the context of the rise and fall of Ancient Rome, they examine a number of broad topics, including the impact of Greek, the linguistic implications of Christianity, the tension between written and spoken regional varieties of the language, the lives and social positions of Latin speakers, and the fate of the language in late antiquity and beyond.

The book includes maps and glossary as well as fully translated and annotated sample texts that illustrate the different stages of the language. Readable and fully up-to-date, The Blackwell History of the Latin Language is ideal for both students and scholars of Latin, linguistics, and ancient history.

About the Author
James Clackson is University Senior Lecturer in Classics at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of The Linguistic Relationship between Armenian and Greek (1994), Indo-European Linguistics: An Introduction (2007) as well as articles on classical and Indo-European philology.

Geoffrey Horrocks is Professor of Comparative Philology at Cambridge. He is the author of Space and Time in Homer (1981), Generative Grammar (1987), Greek: a History of the Language and its Speakers (1997), as well as of many articles on the history and structure of Greek from antiquity to the present day; he is also co-editor of Themes in Greek Linguistics (1998) and Studies in Greek Syntax (1999).

Бахтин М. - Проблема текста в лингвистике

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Бахтин М. Проблема текста в лингвистике, филологии и других гуманитарных науках

Приходится называть наш анализ философским прежде всего по соображениям негативного характера: это не лингвистический, не филологический, не литературоведческий или какой-либо иной специальный анализ (исследование). Положительные же соображения таковы: наше исследование движется в пограничных сферах, то есть на границах всех указанных дисциплин, на их стыках и пересечениях.

Текст (письменный и устный) как первичная данность всех этих дисциплин и вообще всего гуманитарно-филологического мышления (в том числе даже богословского и философского мышления в его истоках). Текст является той непосредственной действительностью (действительностью мысли и переживаний), из которой только и могут исходить эти дисциплины и это мышление. Где нет текста, там нет и объекта для исследования и мышления...

Вернер Зомбарт - Социология

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Вернер Зомбарт

Социология

Введение в антологию социологии должно не только разъяснить принцип выбора, но прежде всего—начертить границы, в пределах которых что-либо должно быть выбрано, т. е. оно должно заключать в себе указания на то, что понимается в этой книге под социологией, каковы различные взгляды на сущность социологии, и лишь после этого, в заключение, разъяснить выбор приведенных здесь отрывков.
В порядке дня состоявшегося в октябре 1922 года в Вене Международного социологического конгресса заключались, между прочим, следующие вопросы: проблема лиги наций, регулирование прав меньшинства, международное духовное сотрудничество, борьба с валютными кризисами, научная организация международной торговли, экономическое и финансовое восстановление Австрии, критерии для агитации за разоружение, способы борьбы с стачками, международное регулирование эмиграционного вопроса, идея профессий, женские профессии, воспитание женщин применительно к их новым задачам, борьба с социальными ядами, международные постановления, касающиеся евгеники.
Если бы мы пожелали рассмотреть в нашей антологии хотя бы малую часть этих тем—они обнимают безграничную область всей экономической, государственной и социальной политики—то, очевидно, мы бы немногого достигли' разве если захотели бы наполнить 10 толстых томов. Итак, под социологией этой книжке понимается совсем иное.
Само собой разумеется, мы не считаем социологией то, что тот или иной автор выдает за социологию; а с другой стороны, мы решили включить в свой выбор и те статьи, авторы которых никогда не согласились бы считать их относящимися к социологии; для нас важно существо вопроса...

Гирц К. - Интерпретация культур

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Гирц К.

Интерпретация культур

Когда антрополог, побуждаемый заинтересованным издателем, начинает собирать некоторые из своих очерков для своеобразной ретроспективной экспозиции того, чем он занимался (или, по крайней мере, пытался заниматься) в течение пятнадцати лет после окончания аспирантуры, перед ним встают две мучительные проблемы: что включать и насколько трепетно относиться к тому, что включил. Никто из нас, пишущих отрывочные материалы для общественно-научных журналов, не несет в себе «книги» - и сегодня публикующих подобные материалы становится все больше и больше. Всем нам представляется, что все, сделанное нашим прошлым «я», сегодняшнее наше «я» могло бы сделать лучше, и мы готовы подвергнуть свои старые работы усовершенствованиям, которых бы никогда не потерпели ни от одного редактора. Попытки найти отчетливый образ на ковре наших сочинений могут оказаться так же обескураживающими, как попытки искать его в нашей жизни; но вплести этот образ postfacto («это именно то, что я тогда подразумевал!») - это всегда искушение.

Мамардашвили М.К. - Лекции по античной философии

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Мамардашвили М.К. Лекции по античной философии

В самом конце 70-х, по инициативе Паолы Дмитриевны Волковой, Мераба Константиновича Мамардашвили пригласили читать лекции во Всесоюзный государственный институт кинематографии. Лишенный к тому времени аудитории и фактически выгнанный с прежнего места работы за "невыполнение плана", он, естественно, принял это приглашение с радостью, поскольку помимо (в силу специфики института) определенной свободы у него появилась, наконец, возможность осуществить свое давнее желание. А именно, читая одновременно разные курсы, рассказать слушателям об истории философии, как "некоей единой, – выражаясь его словами, – хотя и растянувшейся во времени, попытке людей философствовать и посредством философии узнавать о себе и о мире то, чего без философии узнать нельзя" (см. первую лекцию настоящего курса). То есть, другими словами, лишь условно разделяя ее на античную, классическую и современную, так как он считал себя убежденным сторонником реальной натуральной философии .

Лекции печатаются с расшифрованных магнитофонных записей с сохранением – насколько это возможно при публикации – авторской манеры устной речи.

И последнее. Ввиду того, что у нас с М.К. было в это время всего несколько кассет, и мне приходилось, как правило, срочно, иногда по ночам распечатывать очередную кассету, чтобы записать следующую лекцию, и к тому же нередко нас подводил магнитофон, часть лекций – это относится прежде всего к вариации 1979 года, которая печатается в книге в виде дополнения – оказалась записанной не полностью, либо с дефектами, о чем остается, конечно, только сожалеть...

Ю.П. Сенокосов

Жак Ле Гофф - СРЕДНЕВЕКОВЫЙ МИР ВООБРАЖАЕМОГО

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Жак Ле Гофф СРЕДНЕВЕКОВЫЙ МИР ВООБРАЖАЕМОГО

Настоящие очерки являются продолжением работ, изданных в 1977 г. под общим заголовком «Pour un autre Moyen Bge» (Paris, Gallimard) (рус. пер.: Другое Средневековье. Время, труд и культура Запада. Екатеринбург, 2000). В предыдущем сборнике автор последовательно расширял, углублял и обновлял подход к изучению истории Средневековья. Теперь внимание его сосредоточено в основном на трех сюжетах. Первый — это время, привилегированный предмет исследований историка. Второй - взаимоотношения между культурой ученой и культурой народной, отношения, существование которых еще недавно оспаривалось рядом блестящих ученых (Пьером Бурдье, Питером Брауном, Роже Шартье...)1, хотя, на мой взгляд, сюжет вполне обоснован и дает богатую пищу для размышлений. Третий - историко-политическая антропология (этикетка еще не приклеена); в статье, посвященной этой последней теме, автор ставит своей задачей направить вновь возросший интерес к политической истории в новое русло. Предметом обстоятельного исследования стали также сновидения, область, находящаяся на перекрестке двух культур: ученой и народной...

Марк Блок - ФЕОДАЛЬНОЕ ОБЩЕСТВО

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Марк Блок ФЕОДАЛЬНОЕ ОБЩЕСТВО

Марк Блок - КОРОЛИ-ЧУДОТВОРЦЫ

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Марк Блок КОРОЛИ-ЧУДОТВОРЦЫ

Пожалуй, эта книга более чем любая другая, достойна быть названной плодом дружбы: в самом деле, разве не могу я назвать своими друзьями всех тех добровольных сотрудников, которые согласились помогать мне с любезностью, тем более достойной восхищения, что они даже не были со мною знакомы? Крайняя разрозненность источников, сложность проблем, которые мне приходилось решать, сделали бы стоявшую передо мною задачу совершенно невыполнимой, не получи я драгоценную поддержку от многих коллег. Я краснею при мысли обо всех ученых из Страсбура, Парижа, Лондона, Турне, Болоньи, Вашингтона и других городов, которых я изводил просьбами сообщить мне то или иное сведение, дать тот или иной совет и которые неизменно отвечали мне с величайшей деликатностью и предупредительностью. Я не благодарю их здесь всех поименно исключительно потому, что не хочу испытывать терпение читателей, предлагая их вниманию бесконечно длинный список...

МАРК БЛОК - Апология истории

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МАРК БЛОК Апология истории или ремесло историка

ЛЮСЬЕНУ ФЕВРУ
вместо посвящения

Если эта книга когда-нибудь выйдет в свет, если она из простого противоядия, в котором я среди ужасных страданий и тревог, личных и общественных, пытаюсь найти немного душевного спокойствия, превратится когда-нибудь в настоящую книгу, книгу для читателей — на ее титульном листе, мой дорогой друг, будет стоять другое, не Ваше имя. Вы поймете, что это имя будет на своем месте — единственное упоминание, которое может позволить себе нежность, настолько глубокая и священная, что ее словами не высказать. Но могу ли я примириться с тем, чтобы Ваше имя появлялось здесь только случайно, в каких-то ссылках? Долгое время мы вместе боролись за то, чтобы история была более широкой и гуманной. Теперь, когда я это пишу, общее наше дело подвергается многим опасностям. Не по нашей вине. Мы — временно побежденные несправедливой судьбой. Все же, я уверен, настанет день, когда наше сотрудничество сможет полностью возобновиться, как в прошлом, открыто и, как в прошлом, свободно. А пока я со своей стороны буду продолжать его на этих страницах, где вес полно Вами. Я постараюсь сохранить присущий ему строй — в глубине согласие, оживляемое на поверхности поучительной игрой наших дружеских споров. Среди идей, которые я намерен отстаивать, не одна идет прямо от Вас. О многих других я и сам, по совести, не знаю. Ваши они, или мои, или же принадлежат нам обоим. Надеюсь, что многое Вы одобрите. Порой, возможно, будете читать с удовольствием. И все это свяжет нас еще крепче
Фужер (Деп. Крез). 10 мая 1941

The Religious Meaning of the Grimms' Magic Fairy Tales

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The Owl, The Raven, and the Dove: The Religious Meaning of the Grimms' Magic Fairy Tales by G. Ronald Murphy

Review

"...an itelligent, charming, and informative book." -- The Chesterton Review
"...lively, careful, insightful, thoughtful, and provocative--a significant contribution to fairy tale studies." --Journal of American Folklore
"Grimm's fairy stories have almost never been considered from [the] perspective [of religious meaning]....Now along comes G. Ronald Murphy...ready to take the plunge into the deeps....Features a neat bit of literary detective work....My summary can only hint at the sparkling intelligence on display in Murphy's readings of the texts....He has added several dazzling layers of meaning to the tales."--Philip Zaleski, First Things
"Literary and cultural analysis of the highest order....Murphy shows in this book how thrilling it can be when our understanding of familiar stories that we enjoy and routinely share with our children is carefully--and lovingly--deepened and enriched by an astute guide."--renton Times
"Murphy's...finding of books in the Grimms' library is significant. Many previous scholars have acknowledged that fairy tales contain `fragments of ancient faith,' and with this new information, readers can appreciate `to what degree and in what particular direction' the Grimm tales were Christianized."--Philadelphia Inquirer
"Here is a fresh, erudite, and highly readable study of the beloved fairy tales of the brothers Grimm. Ronald Murphy advances our understanding of the Classical, Germanic, and Christian sources of these stories in a manner comparable to what Bruno Bettelheim did twenty five years ago from the perspective of modern psychiatry. Murphy proves that the Grimms were deeply influenced by biblical faith and that this spiritual vision is the most important key for unlocking the rich meaning of their stories. The Owl, the Raven, and the Dove is a book not just for the sharp tothed academic. I earnestly recommend it to parents and those who teach young people, or just anyone who loves fairy tales." -Vigen Guroian, author of Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination
"Wilhelm Grimm has found a worthy modern expositor- almost a brother- in Ron Murphy, whose gifts of research, sympathetic insight, and ecumenical religious imgination mirror those of the romantic literary genius, Wilhelm himself. Father Murphy's archival discoveries have allowed him to reconstruct Wilhelm's generous religious mentality, and his new readings of the tales in view of this mindset will come as a revelation to professional students of the Grimm's tales and to the general reader alike." -Joseph Harris, Harvard University


Product Description
The fairy tales collected by the brothers Grimm are among the best known and most widely-read stories in western literature. In recent years commentators such as Bruno Bettelheim have, usually from a psychological perspective, pondered the underlying meaning of the stories, why children are so enthralled by them, and what effect they have on the the best-known tales (Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty) and shows that the Grimms saw them as Christian fables. Murphy examines the arguments of previous interpreters of the tales, and demonstrates how they missed the Grimms' intention. His own readings of the five so-called "magical" tales reveal them as the beautiful and inspiring "documents of faith" that the Grimms meant them to be.
Offering an entirely new perspective on these often-analyzed tales, Murphy's book will appeal to those concerned with the moral and religious education of children, to students and scholars of folk literature and children's literature, and to the many general readers who are captivated by fairy tales and their meanings.

About the Author

Ronald G. Murphy is Professor of German at Georgetown University.

Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs

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Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs by John Lindow

Review

"This book has a very good and thorough dictionary of names.... Its essays on time in Norse mythology and its summary of the historical background are extremely helpful and enlightening."--Nicholas D. Humez, Montclair State University


Product Description
Norse Mythology explores the magical myths and legends of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Viking-Age Greenland--outlining along the way the prehistoric tales and beliefs from these regions that have remained embedded in the imagination of the world.
The book begins with an Introduction that helps put Scandinavian mythology in place in history, followed by a chapter that explains the meaning of mythic time, and a third section that presents in-depth explanations of each mythological term. These fascinating entries identify particular deities and giants, as well as the places where they dwell and the varied and wily means by which they forge their existence and battle one another. We meet Thor, one of the most powerful gods, who specializes in killing giants using a hammer made for him by dwarfs, not to mention myriad trolls, ogres, humans and strange animals. We learn of the ongoing struggle between the gods, who create the cosmos, and the jotnar, or giants, who aim to destroy it. In the enchanted world where this mythology takes place, we encounter turbulent rivers, majestic mountains, dense forests, storms, fierce winters, eagles, ravens, salmon and snakes in a landscape closely resembling Scandinavia. Beings travel on ships and on horseback; they eat slaughtered meat and drink mead.
Spanning from the inception of the universe and the birth of human beings to the universe's destruction and the mythic future, these sparkling tales of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, gods and heroes will entertain readers and offer insight into the relationship between Scandinavian myth, history, and culture.

About the Author

John Lindow is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley specializing in Scandinavian medieval studies and folklore.

Encyclopedia of Modern Greek Literature

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Encyclopedia of Modern Greek Literature
by Bruce Merry

Review
“Merry offers the first encyclopedia of modern Greek literature for English readers. Some 900 articles, many of substantial length, cover major and minor authors, literary works, events, terms, and topics....Recommended. Academic libraries supporting programs in classics, Byzantine, and modern Greek studies, and in comparative literature.”–Choice

“[T]his is a critical book on Modern Greek Literature suitable for every kind of library. Graduate students, faculty and even the general user with an interest in the subject will find this an invaluable encyclopedia.”–Reference Reviews

“An excellent launching point for exploring the range of modern Greek writing, this guide is recommended for public and academic library collections.”–Lawrence Look at Books

Product Description
Greece has an old and influential literary tradition. The lion's share of attention has been given to classical Greek literature, yet the nation continues to produce significant imaginative works. This reference provides more than 800 alphabetically arranged entries on important authors, texts, genres, themes, and topics in Greek literature from the Byzantine period to the present. Brief, readable entries provide basic information on the history and development of modern Greek literature and language. Each entry is thoroughly cross-referenced, and most conclude with a bibliography of further information resources. The encyclopedia also offers a useful chronology of modern Greek literature, a select bibliography of important general works, and a detailed subject index.

A Companion to Rhetoric and Rhetorical Criticism

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A Companion to Rhetoric and Rhetorical Criticism (Blackwell Companions to Literature and Culture)
by Charles Altieri (Contributor), Don H. Bialostosky (Contributor), Wayne Booth (Contributor), Wendy Olmsted (Editor), Walter Jost (Editor).....

Review
"Walter Jost and Wendy Olmsted have produced a remarkable volume that serves equally well as an introduction to rhetorical studies and as a reference work for specialists. The range of the essays and the credentials of the contributors mark the book as important, but its most notable feature is the conception and development of a general work on rhetoric that remains connected with specific texts, historical contexts, and material circumstances ... The result is a volume impressive in its parts and invaluable in its totality – a must read." Michael C. Leff, Northwestern University

"Walter Jost and Wendy Olmsted have produced a remarkable volume that serves equally well as an introduction to rhetorical studies and as a reference work for specialists. The range of the essays and the credentials of the contributors mark the book as important, but its most notable feature is the conception and development of a general work on rhetoric that remains connected with specific texts, historical contexts, and material circumstances ... The result is a volume impressive in its parts and invaluable in its totality - a must read." Michael C. Leff, Northwestern University

Review
"Walter Jost and Wendy Olmsted have produced a remarkable volume that serves equally well as an introduction to rhetorical studies and as a reference work for specialists. The range of the essays and the credentials of the contributors mark the book as important, but its most notable feature is the conception and development of a general work on rhetoric that remains connected with specific texts, historical contexts, and material circumstances ... The result is a volume impressive in its parts and invaluable in its totality – a must read." Michael C. Leff, Northwestern University

Product Description
A Companion to Rhetoric offers the first major survey in two decades of the field of rhetorical studies and of the practice of rhetorical theory and criticism across a range of disciplines.


* Assesses rhetoric's place in the larger intellectual universe.

* Focuses on the practical side of rhetoric, looking at specific works, problems and figures.

* Provides examples of rhetoric from ancient times to the present day.

* Written by leading scholars from a variety of different fields.

From the Back Cover
A Companion to Rhetoric and Rhetorical Criticism offers the first major survey in two decades of the field of rhetorical studies and of the practice of rhetorical theory and criticism across a range of disciplines. The contributions are written by leading scholars from a variety of different fields and have all been specially commissioned for this volume. They focus on specific works, problems, or figures, pursuing theory and criticism from an engaged and practical perspective. The volume also includes an overview of rhetorical traditions, providing examples of rhetoric from ancient times to the present day. Designed to be accessible to a range of students and scholars, A Companion to Rhetoric and Rhetorical Criticism elaborates in fascinating ways just what it means to 'think like a rhetorician.'

About the Author
Walter Jost teaches in the English Department at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Wendy Olmsted teaches in the Humanities Division at the University of Chicago.

Famous Modern Ghost Stories

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Famous Modern Ghost Stories (Dodo Press) by Dorothy Scarborough (Editor)

THE WILLOWS BY ALGERNON BLACKWOOD
THE SHADOWS ON THE WALL BY MARY E. WILKINS FREEMAN
THE MESSENGER BY ROBERT W. CHAMBERS
LAZARUS BY LEONID ANDREYEV
THE BEAST WITH FIVE FINGERS BY W. F. HARVEY
THE MASS OF SHADOWS BY ANATOLE FRANCE
WHAT WAS IT? BY FITZ-JAMES O'BRIEN
THE MIDDLE TOE OF THE RIGHT FOOT BY AMBROSE BIERCE
THE SHELL OF SENSE BY OLIVIA HOWARD DUNBAR
THE WOMAN AT SEVEN BROTHERS BY WILBUR DANIEL STEELE
AT THE GATE BY MYLA JO CLOSSER
LIGEIA BY EDGAR ALLAN POE
THE HAUNTED ORCHARD BY RICHARD LE GALLIENNE
THE BOWMEN BY ARTHUR MACHEN
A GHOST BY GUY DE MAUPASSANT

Henri Bergson - Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic

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Laughter: An Essay on the Meaning of the Comic by Henri Bergson
Product Description
Henri Bergson was an early 20th century French philosopher. Bergson's essay on laughter states that laughter is an intellectual response. We laugh because we feel uncomfortable when the unexpected occurs. When in a situation over which we have no control laughter is a release.

Singing for the Gods: Performances of Myth and Ritual

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Singing for the Gods: Performances of Myth and Ritual in Archaic and Classical Greece (Oxford Classical Monographs) by Barbara Kowalzig

Product Description
Singing for the Gods develops a new approach towards an old question in the study of religion - the relationship of myth and ritual. Focusing on ancient Greek religion, Barbara Kowalzig exploits the joint occurrence of myth and ritual in archaic and classical Greek song-culture. She shows how choral performances of myth and ritual, taking place all over the ancient Greek world in the early fifth century BC, help to effect social and political change in their own time. Religious song emerges as integral to a rapidly changing society hovering between local, regional, and panhellenic identities and between aristocratic rule and democracy. Drawing on contemporary debates on myth, ritual, and performance in social anthropology, modern history, and theatre studies, this book establishes Greek religion's dynamic role and gives religious song-culture its deserved place in the study of Greek history.

About the Author

Barbara Kowalzig is Leverhulme Research Fellow, Royal Holloway, University of London.

The Blackwell Companion to Modern Theology

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The Blackwell Companion to Modern Theology (Blackwell Companions to Religion)
by Gareth Jones (Editor)

Review
"The book is an unqualified success, and should be compulsory reading for anyone who seriously wants to understand why theology, while it may be post-modern, can never be pre-modern again."
The Revd Keith Ward, University of Oxford, The Church Times

Review
"The book is an unqualified success, and should be compulsory reading for anyone who seriously wants to understand why theology, while it may be post-modern, can never be pre-modern again."
The Revd Keith Ward, University of Oxford, The Church Times

Product Description
* In this major reference work, a team of the world's leading theologians provides a powerful overview of modern theology

* Covers theology's relation to other disciplines, the history of theology, major themes, key figures and contemporary issues

* Can be used as the basis for an introductory course or as an essential reference source

Book Description
In this volume, a team of the world's leading theologians provides a powerful overview of modern theology. The volume begins with an outline of modern theology by the editor, including an analysis of the contemporary situation. The 32 contributions are then divided into four sections, covering: bull; bull;Theology's relation to other allied disciplines and to the practice of faith. bull;The history of theology and major themes such as the Trinity, incarnation and redemption. bull;Key figures in modern theology. bull;Theology's relation to contemporary issues such as sexuality, race, mysticism, ecology and science. Each chapter features boxed highlights, annotated suggestions for further reading, extensive bibliographic references and cross-referencing. Students will also welcome the inclusion of a glossary and author and subject indexes. The Companion can be used as the basis for an introductory course or as an essential reference for students throughout their studies.

From the Back Cover
In this major reference work, a team of the world's leading theologians provides a powerful overview of modern theology. The volume begins with an outline of modern theology by the editor, including an analysis of the contemporary situation. Following an accessible structure, the 32 contributions are divided into five sections, covering:

• theology's relation to other allied disciplines and to the practice of faith
  
• the history of theology
  
• major themes such as the Trinity, incarnation, and redemption
  
• key figures in modern theology
  
• theology's relation to contemporary issues such as sexuality, race, mysticism, ecology, and science.

Featuring extensive bibliographic references, the Companion can be used as the basis for courses or as an essential reference for students throughout their studies.

About the Author
Gareth Jones is Professor of Christian Theology and Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Canterbury Christ Church University College. He is the author of a number of books including Christian Theology: A Brief Introduction (1999).

Sumer and the Sumerians

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Sumer and the Sumerians by Harriet E. W. Crawford

Book Description
Up-to-date historical and archaeological sources are drawn on in a review of the extraordinary social and technological developments, from 3800 to 2000 BC, of one of the best-known ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia.

Product Description
Mesopotamia produced one of the best-known ancient civilizations, with a literate, urban culture and highly-developed political institutions. Writing primarily for a non-specialist audience but drawing on the most up-to-date historical and archaeological sources, Harriet Crawford reviews the extraordinary social and technological developments in the region over a period of two millennia, from 3800 to 2000 BC. She describes the physical environment and discusses architecture, trade and industry, the development of writing, and changes in social and political structures. The final chapter examines the shift in power during this period from the 'temple' to the 'palace'.

Book Description
Mesopotamia produced one of the best-known ancient civilizations, with a literate, urban culture and highly-developed political institutions. Writing primarily for a non-specialist audience but drawing on up-to-date historical and archaeological sources, Harriet Crawford reviews the extraordinary social and technological developments in the region over a period of two millennia, from 3800 to 2000 BC.

Samuel Beckett and the Prosthetic Body

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Samuel Beckett and the Prosthetic Body: The Organs and Senses in Modernism by Yoshiki Tajiri

Product Description

Samuel Beckett and the Prosthetic Body is a study of the representation of the body in Samuel Beckett's work (both novels and plays), specifically focused on the 'prosthetic' aspect of the organs and senses. While making use of the theoretical potential of the concept of 'prosthesis', this book aims to resituate Beckett in the broad cultural context of modernism in which the impact of new media and technologies was variously registered.

About the Author

YOSHIKI TAJIRI is Associate Professor of English at the University of Tokyo, Japan. He has written extensively on Samuel Beckett and Twentieth-century English Literature. He has also translated Beckett's Dream of Fair to Middling Women into Japanese and edited a Japanese book on J.M. Coetzee.

The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity

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The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity (Blackwell Companions to Religion) by Ken Parry (Editor)

Review
"A masterful description of the major living traditions of Eastern Christianity. Its 24 chapters, each written by an accomplished scholar in the field, address the dominant ethnic and cultural categories of Eastern Christianity (Arab, Byzantine, etc.) along with their most characteristic features (liturgy, iconography, and hagiography). Each offers a concise, well-organized, and highly readable overview of the tradition in question, along with a representative bibliography ... Highly recommended. Academic libraries and theological collections; upper-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers." CHOICE

"A distinctive addition to the companion series and to its chosen sphere of knowledge." Reference Reviews

“Christian emigration, not least from the Middle East, means that there are growing communities of Eastern Christians in the West … Eastern Christians are now companions to Western; and the latter will learn much about the former from this Blackwell Companion.” Church Times

"The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity is quite unlike anything else available. It provides a scholarly and authoritative introduction to Eastern Christianity in its myriad variety, covering all the different geographical regions from the Balkans to China and reaching across to the States, and including all jurisdictions. It gives succinct accounts of their history and doctrine, with separate sections on liturgy, iconography and hagiography. Brilliant!"
Andrew Louth, University of Durham

"This latest addition to the Blackwell Companion series constitutes the most comprehensive, authoritative and elegant account of the Eastern Churches ever published. Its twenty-four chapters, each the work of a specialist, combine full accounts of the history and life of each church with a series of outstanding surveys of their liturgical, iconographical and hagiographical traditions. The surveys of Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox liturgies are a formidable achievement and will be invaluable to students of liturgy Eastern and Western. This work is a definitive synthesis which will stimulate interest in the Eastern Churches at a time when many of them are under threat because of political upheavals. It will also provide a starting point for the further study of their fascinating traditions. Scholarship will long be in the debt of Ken Parry, the editor and organizing mind behind this wonderful collection."
John Healey, University of Manchester

"A fitting companion volume to Parry’s The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity, this large enterprise will become an indispensable reference work for the study of Eastern Christianities from Egypt to China to USA. Particularly welcome is its emphasis on varying liturgical, iconographical, architectural, and hagiographical traditions."
Pauline Allen, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane

Product Description
This Companion offers an unparalleled survey of the history, theology, doctrine, worship, art, culture and politics that make up the churches of eastern Christianity.

• Covers both Byzantine traditions (such as the Greek, Russian and Georgian churches) and Oriental traditions (such as the Armenian, Coptic and Syrian churches)
  
• The volume’s in-depth articles are written by an international team of experts
  
• Contributes to our understanding of recent political events in the Middle East and Eastern Europe by providing much needed background information
  
• The Companion is designed to stand alongside The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christanity (Blackwell, 1999).

Book Description
This Companion offers an unparalleled survey of the history, theology, doctrine, worship, art, culture and politics that make up the churches of Eastern Christianity. Eastern Christianity - whether Catholic or Orthodox, Chalcedonian or non-Chalcedonian - has a history as complex and fascinating as that of Western Christianity, and yet since the split between the Churches, this history has remained unknown to many people. Over the last few decades there has been a growing realization that in order to understand the history of Christianity, it is necessary to understand this history of the Eastern Church. This Companion brings together 25 of the leading scholars in the field to discuss both the history of Eastern Christianity and its present relevance. It offers full coverage to the Byzantine traditions (Greek, Slav, Romanian, and Georgian) and the Oriental traditions (Armenian, Assyrain, Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian, and Indian) as well as Orthodox, Catholic and Reformed communities.

From the Back Cover
Recent political events in the Middle East and eastern Europe have brought eastern Christianity to global attention. The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity provides an unparalleled account of the history and development of these vital Christian traditions, at the same time placing contemporary events in their full context. The Companion provides authoritative and lively essays on the main Eastern Orthodox traditions, such as the Greek, Russian, and Georgian churches, as well as the Oriental Orthodox traditions, including the Armenian, Coptic, and Syrian churches.

The in-depth articles of the Companion, which are written by an international team of experts, offer a comprehensive survey of the history, theology, doctrine, worship, art, culture, and politics that make up the churches of Eastern Christianity. The Companion can also be used alongside the respected Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity (Blackwell, 1999), providing detailed discussions and assessments to complement the Dictionary’s shorter entries.

About the Author
Ken Parry is Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Ancient History at Macquarie University, Australia. He is the editor-in-chief of The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity (Blackwell, 1999) and has contributed to numerous other books and journals on Byzantine Christianity and the Christian East.

Metaphors Dictionary

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Metaphors Dictionary by Elyse Sommer

In the words of Christopher Fry, "There's not a devil / In the length of the land could pick such a posy of words / And not swoon smelling it." These words appear under the subject heading Language and serve as an apt description of Metaphors Dictionary. The editors bring unique qualifications to the volume: Sommer compiled the Similes Dictionary (Gale, 1988), and Weiss is a retired English teacher. Intended for browsing, as "inspiration for writers and speakers," for the enhancement of the understanding and appreciation of metaphor, and as a quotation finder, the work meets the compilers stated goals. More than 6,500 metaphors under 600 subject headings make this the most comprehensive work of its kind.

An informative introduction discusses types of metaphor: mixed, extended, personification, allusion, metonymy, and antonomasia. A brief bibliography for further reading on these topics follows. A table of subject headings serves as an outline of contents. Subjects range from such abstract ideas as Abandonment, Enthusiasm, and Guilt to the concrete: Rainbows, Pets, and Diaries. Entries are arranged alphabetically by subject and then by author. Brief annotations that include background information, variants, or related metaphors accompany many entries. The source is given for most metaphors. The metaphors are from all periods of history, Homer to Bill Clinton, and represent the words of poets, speech writers, journalists, scientists, philosophers, business people, actors, and "just plain folks." There are author-speaker and subject indexes, a list of one-or two-word "common" metaphors, and a section of 600 metaphors from Shakespeare. A lengthy bibliography lists the works from which the authors chose the metaphors. Literary and classical metaphors predominate; many others are from newspapers and speeches.

Future editions would benefit from a word index such as those found in quotation dictionaries, which would make the location of specific quotations much easier. Metaphors Dictionary is a valuable addition to reference works on words. A complementary dictionary of familiar metaphors with unknown origins is Loose Cannons & Red Herrings: A Book of Lost Metaphors (Norton, 1988), with no attributions but useful explanations of derivation. Libraries will also want to collect specialized metaphor dictionaries such as Robert Palmatier's Sports Talk: A Dictionary of Sports Metaphors (Greenwood, 1989) and his Speaking of Animals: A Dictionary of Animal Metaphors (Greenwood, 1995).

It took awhile, but Random House has finally produced an electronic version of its unabridged dictionary of which it can be justifiably proud. When first reviewed by the Board [RBB F 1 94], it was criticized as having several indexing errors, a buggy Anagram search, and slow retrieval time.

Version 1.7 fixes most of these problems and adds a new feature, audio pronunciations, though it has higher hardware requirements than its predecessors. Minimum requirements are at least an 80386 IBM or compatible PC, 2MB of RAM, a hard drive with at least 1.5MB free, MS-DOS version 3.1 or later, Windows version 3.1, and a Windows-compatible sound card with speakers to access the pronunciations. Whereas previous versions included DOS, Windows, and Macintosh software on one CD, the current version runs only through Windows. The program may be invoked by clicking the proper program group or via a "hot key" combination within another Windows-based word processing program. With WordPerfect for Windows 6.0, the dictionary is automatically installed as an option in the Tools pull-down menu. Like previous versions, there is no direct printing capability--an entry must be pasted into a word processor. Unlike previous versions, an eight-page manual is included in the jewel case rather than merely in a READ.ME file.

Although the basic ways of retrieving entries remain the same in this new version, the retrieval time, particularly for Boolean searches, is much quicker. Furthermore, DefSearch now allows the use of wildcards, which is a noteworthy enhancement. In addition to the standard Boolean operators that were allowed before, DefSearch also has a More Options button, which allows one to limit a search to within a single definition of an entry or limit a search within a certain range of words. There are also boxes to check to specify case sensitivity, limit a search only to definitions with illustrations, and to turn Exact Match on or off; turning it off will include inflected forms of a word in a search. Finally, all words searched with DefSearch are highlighted in the entry, making the selected words easier to spot.

Other major enhancements include more than 115,000 spoken pronunciations and more than 2,200 line drawings. This makes Random House far and away the superior CD-ROM dictionary in number of pronunciations--surpassing the 80,000 in The American Heritage Dictionary in Microsoft Bookshelf '94 [RBB O 1 94]. Words with pronunciation available are shown with a speaker icon. A particularly nice touch is that often first names as well as the last names of individuals are pronounced. Thus, such names as Horthy, Miklo{¢}s von Nagyba{ }nya are pronounced in their entirety--unlike Bookshelf '94, which has pronunciations for only the last names. The illustrations included precisely match the line drawings that appear in the print version of the work and are noted by a camera icon.

Problems noted in the previous review have been corrected, including the Anagram search and inconsistency in retrieving words that appear as synonyms within entries. In fact, a few surprises in retrieval capability were discovered. Although a Help screen specifies that one cannot search the etymologies with DefSearch, actual sample searches suggest otherwise. An undocumented feature is that phrases may be searched by including the phrase within quotation marks. With this capability, users may search idioms by exact wording.

Indeed, this dictionary is everything it should have been the first time it was released. The retrieval capabilities are more than adequate for most users, and the number of spoken pronunciations is unexcelled. However, we strongly urge Random House to consider replacing the heavily promoted previous versions with the newest version--or at least provide version 1.7 to libraries for a moderate upgrade fee. With this version, users should not be disappointed. Highly recommended. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Rates a recommendation to lovers of language. – William Safire, New York Times. A masterful metaphor, like a picture, may be worth a thousand words. By comparing two unlike objects or ideas, it illuminates the similarities between them, accomplishing in a word or phrase what could otherwise be expressed only in many words, if at all. Metaphors Dictionary is an expansive collection of 6,500 colorful classic and contemporary comparative phrases (with full annotations and a complete bibliography of sources). The Metaphors Dictionary revisits most of the great and respected names in the annals of cultural literacy while dipping into current literature and media sources. And now available for the first time in hard cover, it’s bound for heavy duty at a price that’s hard to beat.

Hesiod's Cosmos

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Hesiod's Cosmos by Jenny Strauss Clay

Review
"...an excellent scholarly book abounding in insights and informed by a vast scholarship. Highly recommended." Choice

"Clay's valuable book should become essential reading on Hesiod and archaic Greek poetry." New England Classical Journal

"This is a virtuoso performance by a scholar whose knowledge of Hesiod few can match. It is a book that first-time readers of Hesiod, including students, can profit from, while it challenges recent critical and scholaraly perspectives." Classical World, Robert Lamberton, Washington University in St. Louis

"passionate, well-argued, deeply researched, driven by fresh perspectives which will challenge, provoke and excite" - Stephen Scully, Department of Classical Studies, Boston University

Product Description
This study reveals the unity of Hesiod's vision of the Cosmos by reading both his poems as two complementary halves of a whole embracing the human and divine cosmos. In the Theogony and Works and Days, Hesiod, roughly contemporary with Homer, does not describe the deeds of the heroes. He provides instead the earliest comprehensive account of the genesis of the Greek gods and the nature of human life that became the foundation for later Greek literature and philosophy.

Book Description
In his two poems, the Theogony and the Works and Days, Hesiod, who was roughly contemporary with Homer, does not describe the deeds of the heroes but provides the earliest systematic and comprehensive account of the genesis of the Greek gods and the nature of human life that became the foundation for all later Greek literature and philosophy. Hesiod's Cosmos reveals the unity of his vision by reading the two poems as complementary halves of a whole embracing the divine and human cosmos.

Download Description
Hesiod's Cosmos offers a comprehensive interpretation of both the Theogony and the Works and Days and demonstrates how the two Hesiodic poems must be read together as two halves of an integrated whole embracing both the divine and the human cosmos. After first offering a survey of the structure of both poems, Professor Clay reveals their mutually illuminating unity by offering detailed analyses of their respective poems, their teachings on the origins of the human race, and the two versions of the Prometheus myth. She then examines the role of human beings in the Theogony and the role of the gods in the Works and Days, as well as the position of the hybrid figures of monsters and heroes within the Hesiodic cosmos and in relation to the Hesiodic Catalogue of Women.

About the Author
Jenny Strauss Clay is Professor of Classics at the University of Virginia. She is the author of The Wrath of Athena (1983; 0691065748) and The Politics of Olympus (1989; 0691067759).

The Linguistics Encyclopedia

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The Linguistics Encyclopedia by Kirst Malmkjaer

Language - 1995
"The articles outline the assigned topics in a lucid, helpful fashion. They can generally be either scanned or read carefully with ease. They are well organized, with clear delimitation into sections and sometimes subsections: important terms are eyecatching in boldface. . . . For those interested in tracking down a technical term, there is a detailed index. Good cross-referencing within articles show the hand of a skillful editor. The bibliography at the end of the book is ample without being overwhelming. All in all, the volume should serve as a welcome reference." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

CHOICE - September 1992
". . .authoritative and up-to-date. . .highly recommended for all academic libraries, community college onward." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

TESOL QUARTERLY - Spring 1994
"...for practicing applied linguistics with an interest in formal linguistics, it is a very useful resource. The coverage and discussion of topics in formal linguistics is excellent." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language - 1995
"The articles outline the assigned topics in a lucid, helpful fashion. They can generally be either scanned or read carefully with ease. They are well organized, with clear delimitation into sections and sometimes subsections: important terms are eyecatching in boldface. . . . For those interested in tracking down a technical term, there is a detailed index. Good cross-referencing within articles show the hand of a skillful editor. The bibliography at the end of the book is ample without being overwhelming. All in all, the volume should serve as a welcome reference." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Choice - September 1992
"In one handy volume its alphabetically arranged entries explore than 150 major and subsidiary areas of linguistics, covering traditional areas of the field as well as current areas of research plus allied areas of study. Applied linguistics receives particularly good coverage. . . . The Linguistics Encyclopedia has many useful reference features: a list of subjects, extensive cross-references, useful and plentiful illustrations, and a well-designed index. . . . [The volume is] authoritative and up-to-date. . . highly recommended for all academic libraries, community college onward." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
This thoroughly revised and updated volume offers comprehensive coverage of the major and subsiduary fields of linguistic study.

Book Info
Provides an analysis of the physical and mental processes connected with language, its social and cultural role and the contribution its study can make to related disciplines. Softcover. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author
Kirsten Malmkjaer is Professor of Translation Studies and Chair of the Language and Literatures Academic Group at Middlesex University.

The Ancient Languages of Syria-Palestine and Arabia

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The Ancient Languages of Syria-Palestine and Arabia

Product Description
This book, derived from the acclaimed Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World's Ancient Languages, describes the ancient languages of Syria-Palestine and Arabia, for the convenience of students and specialists working in that area. Each chapter of the work focuses on an individual language or, in some instances, a set of closely related varieties of a language. Providing a full descriptive presentation, each of these chapters examines the writing system(s), phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicon of that language, and places the language within its proper linguistic and historical context. The volume brings together an international array of scholars, each a leading specialist in ancient language study. While designed primarily for scholars and students of linguistics, this work will prove invaluable to all whose studies take them into the realm of ancient language.

Book Description
This book describes the ancient languages of Syria-Palestine and Arabia, for the convenience of students and specialists working in that area. Each chapter examines the writing system(s), phonology, morphology, syntax and lexicon of a language, and places that language within its proper linguistic and historical context.

About the Author
Roger D. Woodard is the Andrew Van Vranken Raymond Professor of the Classics at the University of Buffalo. His numerous publications include The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the World's Ancient Languages (2004).

Sport in Ancient Times

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Sport in Ancient Times (Praeger Series on the Ancient World) by Nigel B. Crowther

Review
“Crowther provides here the second volume in the "Praeger Series on the Ancient World," which is aimed at the nonspecialist and general reader. Crowther's broad sweep includes the role of sports in ancient Egypt and the Middle East, early China and Japan, and even Mesoamerica. He focuses on Greek athletics (especially the Olympics) and Roman contests (especially spectator sports) and their use for political purposes, and he expands his discussion to sport in the Byzantine Empire, particularly charioteering. Other chapters emphasize social issues, and include a comparison of noted Greek, Roman, and Byzantine athletes and a discussion of the changing role of women in sport. Crowther's main themes include amateurism and professionalism, fair play, crowd behavior, politics, class, and sexuality. He includes a time line and a brief annotated list of further readings, but no notes. Crowther seems current with relevant sources, so one regrets his failure to name the authorities he discusses. Excellent graphics. Recommended. Lower-/upper-division undergraduates; general readers.”–Choice

“This book lays the foundation for studying sport within any number of disciplines, exploring the games and competitions of ancient society around the world in order to arrive at an understanding of the forms sports take today....[W]hat distinguishes Sport in Ancient Times from a rich, growing body of literature examining the heritage of sport is that Crowther also explores the role of women and the place of sport in China, Japan, and the Middle East, areas heretofore given short consideration in sports historiography.... By presenting evidence for sports in nearly every part of the world, he provides substance for contemporary research. The writing is clear and concise, and the solid bibliography includes easily accessible books. Sport in Ancient Times is appropriate for librarians from secondary through college levels, and, in fact, is so illuminating that it should be required opening text for any college course that deals with sports.”–Reference & User Services Quarterly

“Crowther provides a historical overview of sport as a cultural practice around the world from about 3000 BCE to the Middle Ages, mentioning nonphysical recreations and games occasionally but concentrating on "activities that embrace contests, skill, training, energy, and fitness. The survey, organized by geography, discusses such topics as early forms of polo and golf in China, sumo wrestling in Japan, bull leaping and boxing in Crete, Homeric descriptions of Ancient Greek sport, Roman gladiatorial combats and chariot racing, and team ball games in Mesoamerica, among many others. The range of themes that arise is similarly broad and includes such issues as bribery, cheating, ideals, amateurism and professionalism, violence, ritual, social class, tourism, and war. Distributed in the US by the U. of Washington Press.”–Reference & Research Book News

Product Description
Crowther offers a fascinating look at the role of sport as practiced in several important civilizations in the ancient world. He not only probes the games themselves, but explores the ways in which athletics figured into cultural arenas that extended beyond physical prowess to military associations, rituals, status, and politics. Sport in Ancient Times has four distinct parts: the Prehistoric Age, historic Greece, ancient Italy, and the Byzantine Empire. Beginning with the earliest civilizations, Crowther examines the military and recreational aspects of sports in prehistoric Egypt, with brief references to other river-valley cultures in Sumeria, Mesopotamia, and Persia. He looks at the rituals of Cretan bull-leaping and boxing in the Bronze Age, the high status of sports in Mycenaean Greece, and the funeral games in the Trojan War as described by the epic poet Homer. In what he terms "the historic period," Crowther examines the significance of the ancient Olympic Games, the events of Greek athletics, and the attitude of other civilizations (notably Rome) towards them. He attempts to discover to what extent the Romans believed in the famous ideal of Juvenal, a "sound mind in a sound body," and discusses the significance of the famous Baths not only for sport, but also for culture and society. He likewise explores the Roman emphasis on spectator sports and the use of gladiatorial contests and chariot racing for political purposes (the concept of "bread and games"). The section on the Byzantine Empire focuses, notably, on chariot racing and the riots at sporting contests--riots reminiscent of crowd violence in modern sports such as soccer. Crowther closes with perspectives that bring to life some of the issues revealed in previous chapters. These include a comparison of the social status and significance of a famous Olympic athlete (Milo), a Roman gladiator (Hermes), and a Byzantine chariot racer (Porphyrius). He also addresses the changing role of women in sports in antiquity. Women were prominent in sport in Egypt, for example, but almost entirely absent from the ancient Olympic Games. The final chapter discusses team sports and ball games. Although these were comparatively rare in the ancient world, one may see in those that did exist the forerunners of modern football and hockey.

A Companion to Tragedy

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A Companion to Tragedy (Blackwell Companions to Literature and Culture) by Rebecca Bushnell

Review
"Rebecca Bushnell's Companion belongs to the series of companions being published by Blackwell. In accord with the objectives of the series, the companion on tragedy is designed to orient new students and provide advanced undergraduates and graduates "with current and new directions." Bushnell's Companion attains the goals of the series...The essays, as would be expected from their authors, manifest a high standard of scholarship and familiarity with current understandings, some of which their efforts has created. They are accessible to the undergraduate who wishes expend effort... The volume has a place on the desk of every reference librarian at the college and university level." Wm. Blake Tyrrell, Michigan State University

“The arrangement of the contents and an index that provides coverage of all the essays, allows immediate targeting of specific topics and quick referencing, whilst in its entirety the book provides an excellent survey of tragedy as it is currently studied. Aimed primarily at undergraduates and useful to postgraduates needing to orientate themselves in the scholarship of this area, this title is a useful addition to the academic library.” Reference Reviews

Review
"Rebecca Bushnell's Companion belongs to the series of companions being published by Blackwell. In accord with the objectives of the series, the companion on tragedy is designed to orient new students and provide advanced undergraduates and graduates "with current and new directions." Bushnell's Companion attains the goals of the series...The essays, as would be expected from their authors, manifest a high standard of scholarship and familiarity with current understandings, some of which their efforts has created. They are accessible to the undergraduate who wishes expend effort... The volume has a place on the desk of every reference librarian at the college and university level." Wm. Blake Tyrrell, Michigan State University

“The arrangement of the contents and an index that provides coverage of all the essays, allows immediate targeting of specific topics and quick referencing, whilst in its entirety the book provides an excellent survey of tragedy as it is currently studied. Aimed primarily at undergraduates and useful to postgraduates needing to orientate themselves in the scholarship of this area, this title is a useful addition to the academic library.” Reference Reviews