Leviathan is one of the earliest and most influential examples of social contract theory. A classic western work on statecraft comparable to Machiavelli's The Prince. Written during the English Civil War (1642–1651), Leviathan argues for a social contract and rule by an absolute sovereign.

A singular fatality has ruled the destiny of nearly all the most famous of Leonardo da Vinci's works. Two of the three most important were never completed, obstacles having arisen during his life-time, which obliged him to leave them unfinished; namely the Sforza Monument and the Wall-painting of the Battle of Anghiari, while the third—the picture of the Last Supper at Milan—has suffered irremediable injury from decay and the repeated restorations to which it was recklessly subjected during the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries. Nevertheless, no other picture of the Renaissance has become so wellknown and popular through copies of every description.

A collection of six plays dealing with the new South Africa, published in 2006 to celebrate 10 years of democracy post-apartheid. Plays about racial conflict, the impact of AIDS, power and corruption, the legacy of the past and female identity. Reprinted 2012, 2019. ? The Plays The Playground?by Beverly Naidoo “…it floats on a haunting, echoing raft of traditional South African harmonies that make watching it a joyful experience as well as a thought-provoking one…”?Time Out Critics’ Choice – Pick of the Year Taxi?by Sibusiso Mamba: Edinburgh fringe first winner “a superbly written and produced play… A fine piece of work that’s refreshingly free of cliches.”?Daily Mail, Pick of the Week Green Man Flashing?by Mike Van Graan “…This finely crafted drama tears at the heart and soul of our democracy, and rips at the underbelly of corruption and political power through its astute writing…”?Star Tonight Rejoice?by James Whylie “… the cruellest irony of all is left until the end… the same one which has spelled the death of Rejoice… And millions more.”?Friends of BBC Radio 3 What the Water Gave Me?by Rehane Abrahams “tales that retrieve ancient magics and reveal contemporary terrors…”?Cape Times To House?by Ashwin Singh: Finalist in the 2003 PANSA (Performing Arts Network of SA) Festival of Reading of New Writing (the country’s foremost playwriting contest) “To House is an important piece of theatre; in it people voice opinions that are uncomfortable and edgy. The cathartic and therapeutic value of hearing these things said aloud in a public place is part of our essential healing process and proves, once again, that art has the ability to go where angels fear to tread.”?Daily News, Durban

Are you the world's biggest Marilyn Manson fan? Or do you want to know everything there is to know about the controversial frontman?If so, then this is the book for you! Contained within are 101 amazing facts about everything, from how Marilyn got started in the music business to his personal life, awards he has won, unusual objects he is said to collect and much more. The book is easily organised into sections so you can find the information you want fast!

A choice selection of one-act plays from the Nobel Prize for Literature and Academy Award winning playwright George Bernard Shaw.Includes: Augustus Does His Bit: A True-to-Life Farce The Dark Lady of the Sonnets How He Lied to Her Husband The Inca of Perusalem: An Almost Historical Comedietta Overruled Press Cuttings

August Strindberg's classic trilogy of plays entitled To Damascus (also known as The Road to Damascus) is known as his greatest work.A very complex and thought provoking play series, it follows the conversations between two characters: the Stranger and the Lady.An excerpt from the Introduction:The Road to Damascus might be termed a marriage drama, a mystery drama, or a drama of penance and conversion, according as preponderance is given to one or other of its characteristics. The question then arises: what was it in the drama which was of deepest significance to the author himself? The answer is to be found in the title, with its allusion to the narrative in the Acts of the Apostles of the journey of Saul, the persecutor, the scoffer, who, on his way to Damascus, had an awe-inspiring vision, which converted Saul, the hater of Christ, into Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles. Strindberg's drama describes the progress of the author right up to his conversion, shows how stage by stage he relinquishes worldly things, scientific renown, and above all woman, and finally, when nothing more binds him to this world, takes the vows of a monk and enters a monastery where no dogmas or theology, but only broadminded humanity and resignation hold sway. What, however, in an inner sense, distinguishes Strindberg's drama from the Bible narrative is that the conversion itself - although what leads up to it is convincingly described, both logically and psychologically - does not bear the character of a final and irrevocable decision, but on the contrary is depicted with a certain hesitancy and uncertainty. THE STRANGER'S entry into the monastery consequently gives the impression of being a piece of logical construction; the author's heart is not wholly in it. From Strindberg's later works it also becomes evident that his severe crisis had undoubtedly led to a complete reformation in that it definitely caused him to turn from worldly things, of which indeed he had tasted to the full, towards matters divine. But this did not mean that then and there he accepted some specific religion, whether Christian or other. One would undoubtedly come nearest to the author's own interpretation in this respect by characterising The Road to Damascus not as a drama of conversion, but as a drama of struggle, the story of a restless, arduous pilgrimage through the chimeras of the world towards the border beyond which eternity stretches in solemn peace, symbolised in the drama by a mountain, the peaks of which reach high above the clouds.

American horticulturalist and writer Edward Payson Roe's fantastic 1881 work on berries and other small fruits.

The Future Revisited examines Hollywood adaptations of Jules Verne stories and is an interdisciplinary study that offers a fresh perspective on film history, French literature, science fiction and America in the 1950s. It is a fascinating and authoritative account of how the stories of Jules Verne, a distinguished French novelist better known around the world as the father of science fiction and an accurate predictor of much of the twentieth century, found particular resonance with US filmmakers in the 1950s. Schiltz looks at four of the most popular films - Around the World in 80 Days, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Center of the Earth and Mysterious Island - and argues that there were many parallels between Verne's technological adventures and postwar America, with its themeparks, shopping malls, Levittowns and plethora of consumer goods. Just as nineteenth-century readers of Verne's books could experience travel from the comfort of their seats, viewers of these films could be swept away on an imaginary flight, a voyage in a submarine, or a trek to the earth's core, all in spectacular widescreen and with ground-breaking special effects. Yet the pleasures offered were ambivalent: encounters with exotic places and cultures might have led the audience to question common assumptions such as gender roles; seeing futuristic domestic spaces could highlight the confusion of attitudes to private and public life in suburbia, and the films' blending of nostalgia and progress might draw attention to society's tug-of-war between innovation and conformity.

A fascinating look at several famous composers from Italy and France, including Rossini, Verdi, Berlioz and Cherubini.

This book is part of a series of 50 quick facts about each of the United States of America. This book covers the state of Arizona. Facts about the major cities, the history of the state, famous people linked to Arizona and many more subjects. This book contains all you will ever need to know about the Copper State.

This book is part of a series of 50 quick facts about each of the United States of America. This book covers the state of Arkansas. Facts about the major cities, the history of the state, famous people linked to Arkansas and many more subjects. This book contains all you will ever need to know about the Natural State.

This book is part of a series of 50 quick facts about each of the United States of America. This book covers the state of Texas. Facts about the major cities, the history of the state, famous people linked to Texas and many more subjects. This book contains all you will ever need to know about the Lone Star state.

The fantastic memoirs of one of the most famous actresses in history, French stage and early film actress Sarah Bernhardt.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to work on a film set? Are you curious to know what goes on behind the scenes of your favourite TV series? If so, you are certain to enjoy this 'fly-on-wall' account of life as a film and TV extra. Written by Harry 'Aitch' Fielder who spent over 30 years working in the film and TV industry, appearing in over 800 productions, this book will give you an insight to the life of an 'extra'. Over the years, the author has been involved with some of the UK's best-loved TV programmes from Z-Cars and The Saint through to Silent Witness and EastEnders as well as many blockbuster films such as Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. In this candid account Harry spills the beans about some of the well-known characters he has worked with including Alfred Hitchcock, Laurence Olivier and the great James Cagney. Extra, Extra, Read All About It is a must-have book for all film and TV fans and anyone interested in finding out what really happens on set.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse, Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Hobbit trilogy, Twelve Years a Slave, August: Osage County, The Fifth Estate; Hedda Gabler, After the Dance, Frankenstein; Hawking, To the Ends of the Earth, The Last Enemy, Parade's End, and, of course, Sherlock. For most actors, these stellar cinematic, theatrical, and television events would be the highlights of a lifetime's work. On Benedict Cumberbatch's resume they are only a few of many entries. Especially since 2010, his performances have garnered a plethora of best actor awards, both in the theatre (Evening Standard Theatre Award, Critics Circle Theatre Award, and Olivier Award), by playing the dual roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature in the National Theatre's Frankenstein, and on television (Broadcasting Press Guild Award, Critics Choice Television Award, Crime Thriller Award, and TV Choice Award), by starring as the titular Holmes in the BBC's Sherlock. Add these and other recent accolades to nearly a decade's nominations and awards (such as the Golden Nymph as best actor in Hawking), and it's easy to see why Benedict Cumberbatch is often hailed as the actor of his generation. Cumberbatch's body of work further includes indie films, radio plays and series, television documentaries, live dramatic readings, multimedia advertisements, and even the occasional stint as a fashion model. He often shares an intriguing perspective on his profession, as evidenced in sometimes controversial interviews. He has become so much in demand that online box offices crash when tickets for his performances go on sale, and, before a Cheltenham Literature Festival Q&A session, fans overwhelmed Twitter when so many responded immediately to a call for questions. Cumberbatch consistently is a top name on lists ranging from sex appeal to global influence. In 2012 he beat David Beckham in the former and U.S. President Barack Obama in the latter. Increasingly, part of Cumberbatch's job involves the role of celebrity. Benedict Cumberbatch is at a pivotal point in his profession, and his career trajectory especially as documented in entertainment media permits a closer examination of just what it means to be a celebrity or star in Britain or the U.S. and how an actor may be perceived very differently in London or Hollywood. This performance biography is an analysis of a man in transition from working actor to multimedia star, as well as the balance between actor and celebrity. It looks at what makes this actor so well suited to play one of popular culture's iconic characters, Sherlock Holmes, and how Sherlock is so well suited to propel Cumberbatch toward greater global fame.

A fantastic look at the life of seven historical singers: Faustino Bordoni Catarina Gabrielli Sophie Arnould Elizabeth Billington and Her Contemporaries Angelica Catalani Giuditta Pasta Henrietta Sontag

Three writings taken from 'Celebrated Crimes', a series of essays on famous criminals and crimes by the author of 'The Count of Monte Cristo' and 'The Three Musketeers', Alexandre Dumas.

Are you the world's biggest Kim Kardashian Fan? Do you know everything there is to know about today's greatest style icon and reality TV star? Then this is the book for you! In this easy-to-digest eBook are 101 facts about your favourite celebrity - do you know all of them?Test yourself and your friends with these handily-packaged facts easily organised into categories for maximum enjoyment. Sections include Kim's TV work, her fashion, and some crazy facts about her life. Show everyone that you are the master of Kardashian Knowledge!

Are you a fan of the king of Easy listening (and Mr Christmas) Andy Williams? Do you know everything there is to know about the late, great singer? Then this is the book for you! In this easy-to-digest eBook are 101 facts about your favourite artist - do you know all of them?Test yourself and your friends with these handily-packaged facts easily organised into categories for maximum enjoyment. Sections include his early life, his music, his theater and much more.

Are you the world's biggest One Direction fan? Do you know everything there is to know about the world's best-loved boy band? Then this is the book for you! In this easy-to-digest eBook are 101 facts about your favourite group - do you know all of them?Test yourself and your friends with these handily-packaged facts easily organised into categories for maximum enjoyment. Show everyone that you are the master of One Direction mania!

Are you an expert on music from the 1960s through to the present day, whilst stopping off at Motown and knowing all about Christmas songs? Then this excellent quiz book is perfect for you! It will test you, your friends and families with your total knowledge of pop music.Split into sections covering the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s, Motown, and Christmas, the book has 725 questions covering all genres of pop music. The answers are also split into the same sections at the rear of the book.