William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in late April 1565 and baptised there on 26th April. He was one of eight children. Little is known about his life but what is evident is the enormous contribution he has made to world literature. His writing was progressive, magnificent in scope and breathtaking in execution. His plays and sonnets helped enable the English language to speak with a voice unmatched by any other. William Shakespeare died on April 23rd 1616, survived by his wife and two daughters. He was buried two days after his death in the chancel of the Holy Trinity Church. The epitaph on the slab which covers his grave includes the following passage, Good friend, for Jesus's sake forbear, To dig the dust enclosed here. Blessed me the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones. Here we publish his tragedy from 1599 'Julius Caesar'.

Thomas Dekker was a playwright, pamphleteer and poet who, perhaps, deserves greater recognition than he has so far gained. Despite the fact only perhaps twenty of his plays were published, and fewer still survive, he was far more prolific than that. Born around 1572 his peak years were the mid 1590's to the 1620's - seven of which he spent in a debtor's prison. His works span the late Elizabethan and Caroline eras and his numerous collaborations with Ford, Middleton, Webster and Jonson say much about his work. His pamphlets detail much of the life in these times, times of great change, of plague and of course that great capital city London a swirling mass of people, power, intrigue.

Euripides is rightly lauded as one of the great dramatists of all time. In his lifetime, he wrote over 90 plays and although only 18 have survived they reveal the scope and reach of his genius. Euripides is identified with many theatrical innovations that have influenced drama all the way down to modern times, especially in the representation of traditional, mythical heroes as ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. As would be expected from a life lived 2,500 years ago, details of it are few and far between. Accounts of his life, written down the ages, do exist but whether much is reliable or surmised is open to debate. Most accounts agree that he was born on Salamis Island around 480 BC, to mother Cleito and father Mnesarchus, a retailer who lived in a village near Athens. Upon the receipt of an oracle saying that his son was fated to win "e;crowns of victory"e;, Mnesarchus insisted that the boy should train for a career in athletics. However, what is clear is that athletics was not to be the way to win crowns of victory. Euripides had been lucky enough to have been born in the era as the other two masters of Greek Tragedy; Sophocles and schylus. It was in their footsteps that he was destined to follow. His first play was performed some thirteen years after the first of Socrates plays and a mere three years after schylus had written his classic The Oristria. Theatre was becoming a very important part of the Greek culture. The Dionysia, held annually, was the most important festival of theatre and second only to the fore-runner of the Olympic games, the Panathenia, held every four years, in appeal. Euripides first competed in the City Dionysia, in 455 BC, one year after the death of schylus, and, incredibly, it was not until 441 BC that he won first prize. His final competition in Athens was in 408 BC. The Bacchae and Iphigenia in Aulis were performed after his death in 405 BC and first prize was awarded posthumously. Altogether his plays won first prize only five times. Euripides was also a great lyric poet. In Medea, for example, he composed for his city, Athens, "e;the noblest of her songs of praise"e;. His lyric skills however are not just confined to individual poems: "e;A play of Euripides is a musical whole....one song echoes motifs from the preceding song, while introducing new ones."e; Much of his life and his whole career coincided with the struggle between Athens and Sparta for hegemony in Greece but he didn't live to see the final defeat of his city. Euripides fell out of favour with his fellow Athenian citizens and retired to the court of Archelaus, king of Macedon, who treated him with consideration and affection. At his death, in around 406BC, he was mourned by the king, who, refusing the request of the Athenians that his remains be carried back to the Greek city, buried him with much splendor within his own dominions. His tomb was placed at the confluence of two streams, near Arethusa in Macedonia, and a cenotaph was built to his memory on the road from Athens towards the Piraeus.

Publius Terentius Afer is better known to us as the Roman playwright, Terence.Much of his life, especially the early part, is either unknown or has conflicting sources and accounts.His birth date is said to be either 185 BC or a decade earlier: 195 BC. His place of birth is variously listed as in, or, near Carthage, or, in Greek Italy to a woman taken to Carthage as a slave. It is suggested that he lived in the territory of the Libyan tribe that the Romans called Afri, near Carthage, before being brought to Rome as a slave. Probability suggests that it was there, in North Africa, several decades after the destruction of Carthage by the Romans in 146 BC, at the end of the Punic Wars, that Terence spent his early years.One reliable fact is that he was sold to P. Terentius Lucanus, a Roman senator, who had him educated and, impressed by his literary talents, freed him.These writing talents were to ensure his legacy as a playwright down through the millennia. His comedies, partially adapted from Greek plays of the late phases of Attic Comedy, were performed for the first time around 170-160 BC. All six of the plays he has known to have written have survived.Indeed, thanks to his simple conversational Latin, which was both entertaining and direct, Terence's works were heavily used by monasteries and convents during the Middle Ages and The Renaissance. Scribes often learned Latin through the copious copying of Terence's texts. Priests and nuns often learned to speak Latin through re-enactment of Terence's plays. Although his plays often dealt with pagan material, the quality and distinction of his language promoted the copying and preserving of his text by the church. This preservation enabled his work to influence a wide spectrum of later Western drama.When he was 25 (or 35 depending on which year of birth you ascribe too), Terence travelled to Greece but never returned. It has long been assumed that he died at some point during the journey.Of his own family nothing is known, except that he fathered a daughter and left a small but valuable estate just outside Rome.His most famous quotation reads: "e;Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto"e;, or "e;I am human, and I think nothing human is alien to me."e;

Planning for Learning through ICT aims to introduce young children to what ICT is, and provides over six weeks worth of activities that explore a range of technologies suitable for children 3-5. The book provides ideas for helping children learn about the different purposes of ICT and explores how to use ICT to create, to find information, to play, to shop. The book focuses in particular on how to use ICT creatively as well as outdoors. Whatever your daily learning, this book aims to show how ICT can be easily and appropriately included in your everyday play and learning.

Lee's first love was always poetry, though he was only moderately successful as a poet. Lee's first poem appeared in The Sunday Referee in 1934. Another poem was published in Cyril Connolly's Horizon magazine in 1940 and his first volume of poems, The Sun My Monument, was launched in 1944. This was followed by The Bloom of Candles (1947) and My Many-coated Man (1955). Several poems written in the early 1940s reflect the atmosphere of the war, but also capture the beauty of the English countryside. The poem "e;Twelfth Night"e; from My Many-coated Man was set for unaccompanied mixed choir by American composer Samuel Barber in 1968.

When Robin Barratt and his wife first met Maria in Moscow, they had no idea how much of an impact she would have on their own lives. From the initial interest in her story, the horror of discovering her daily struggle to survive through to active involvement in trying to improve her life. Living on the streets and begging is a harsh reality for many in Russia but for those with a disability life can be doubly cruel. Overlooked by the authorities and people who should have helped her, Maria willingly shared her story with the author who, in turn, made a promise, not only to tell the world about her situation, but to try and make a real difference. Maria's Story documents the true story of one woman's fight for survival against all the odds and those who tried to help her. It uncovers the truth of how many people continue to live in poverty in one of the world's most vibrant cities. Desperately sad, haunting but frequently uplifting, this book is a tale about overcoming adversity and, above all, never losing hope.

“事情并不简单，而是错综复杂的。如果它咬了布朗宁先生，那是因为他也咬了她。仇恨并非只是仇恨；仇恨也可以是爱。” 弗吉尼亚·伍尔夫为诗人伊丽莎白·巴雷特·勃朗宁（Elizabeth Barrett Browning）的西班牙猎犬所著的传记，令人愉悦，探讨了作为人类以及作为狗的意义。

本书作为我社“*经典英语文库”第14辑中的一种，精选法国著名作家维克多·雨果的经典作品《悲惨世界 （五卷之第五卷）》（前四卷已出）。作品讲述了主人公土伦苦刑犯冉·阿让（Jean Valjean）的个人经历，并融了法国的历史、革命、战争、道德哲学、法律、正义、宗教信仰。《悲惨世界》以冉·阿让出狱后的种种经历贯穿全书，深刻反映了时代的问题。雨果在作品中融了从拿破仑在滑铁卢的失败到反对“七月王朝”的人民起义这一阶段的历史，反映了当时的社会生活和政治状况。作品不仅描述了获释犯人冉·阿让和流浪妇女芳汀的不幸生活以及芳汀的私生女柯赛特的悲惨遭遇，而且揭示了当时社会中勤劳善良的劳动人民却受歧视和压迫的不公平命运。雨果还在作品中揭露了当时残酷不公的法典和秩序，猛烈抨了那种人们饿死可以而偷面包却要坐牢的社会制度，谴责了那些安于现状和铁石心肠的市民在面对处于困境中的他人时的那种袖手旁观的冷漠态度。

这是奥斯汀*受欢迎的一部小说，它写的是爱情纠葛，但显然并不限于爱情。一本书能成为名著，当然不仅仅它能让人感到愉悦，更重要的是，它能让人有所启迪。 那时候，作者就告诉我们：为了财产、金钱和地位而结婚是错误的。但是，200年后，我们不还是如此吗？

本书作为我社“经典英语文库”第15辑中的一种，精选俄国著名剧作家和短篇小说大师契诃夫的短篇小说。其以语言精练、准确见长，善于透过生活的表层行探索，将人物隐蔽的动机揭露得淋漓尽致。他的优秀剧本和短篇小说没有复杂的情节和清晰的解答，集中讲述一些貌似平凡琐碎的故事，创造出一种特别的，有时可以称之为令人难以忘怀的或是抒情味极浓的艺术氛围。他采用简洁的写作技巧避免炫耀文学手段，被认为是19世纪末俄国现实主义文学流派的杰出代表。

本书作为我社“经典英语文库”第15辑中的一种，精选由英国著名作家D. H. 劳伦斯的作品《无意识幻想曲》。D.H.劳伦斯被称为“英国文学伟大的人物之一”，长期以来受到大家的广泛关注。与任意时期任何国家的作家相比，劳伦斯有一极其鲜明，他的写作形式相当广泛，包括小说，短篇故事诗，意大利和俄国文学的英译，新建文学评论，社会评论，编史心理学笔记游记，他的游记覆盖了以上诸多的写作形式本书是其在心理学方面的代表作。

本书作为我社“经典英语文库”第15辑中的一种，精选由英国著名作家弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙的经典作品《夜与日》。故事发生在爱德华七世时期的伦敦，将两位女主人公——凯瑟琳·希尔伯里和玛丽·达切特的日常生活和浪漫情怀行了对比，探讨了爱情、婚姻、幸福和成功之间的关系。故事有四位主人公：凯瑟琳·希尔伯里，玛丽·达切特，拉尔夫·德纳姆，和威廉·罗德尼，他们苦苦探索人生，追求爱情的真谛，找寻真正的自我。《夜与日》提到了妇女的参政权、爱情和婚姻是否可以共存、婚姻是否是幸福的前提等问题。贯穿全书的主题有星空、泰晤士河和切恩道。

本书作为我社“经典英语文库”第15辑中的一种，精选由英国著名作家D.H劳伦斯劳伦斯创作的长篇小说《虹》。本书通过一家三代人的遭遇，描述了工业革命给传统的乡村带来的巨大变化，同时以巨大的热情和深度，探索有关性的心理问题。代人的生活带有田园诗的色彩，同时也预示古老文明即将结束。第二代人精神的苦闷和呆滞的目光，是令人窒息的工业化社会的好注解。第三代人的探索具有积极的社会意义，表达了人们要冲破狭窄的生活圈子，渴望一种自然和谐的生活。

本书作为我社“经典英语文库”第15辑中的一种，精选法国十九世纪著名作家大仲马所作长篇小说《十年以后》。本书是《三个火枪手》的续集。为“达塔尼昂浪漫三部曲”之一。三部曲的故事发展到《十年以后》一书中的阶段，个中的场景已不再是三十年前的刀光剑影、血雨腥风，取而代之的是法王路易十四挥金如土、宫闱暧昧、官场明争暗斗以及贵妇人之间争风吃醋等情节。其中，柔弱质朴、胆小怕事的路易丝·德拉瓦利埃小姐如何一步步被设局沦落为路易十四情妇的经过，为下来《路易丝·德拉瓦利埃》的展做足了铺垫。

本书作为我社“经典英语文库”第15辑中的一种，精选由英国著名作家弗吉尼亚·伍尔芙的经典作品《雅各的房间》。作品讲述了一位年轻人短暂的一生。海边的童年、剑桥求学、独立成长、与不同女性的情感、到法国及希腊游学、及后丧生于次世界大战中。此书通常被认为是伍尔夫在文学创新方面次较大规模的探索和实验，是她创作过程中的一个转折，是她尝试用意识流手法创作的一个端。这本小说时间背景设置在英格兰，始于雅各的童年。

An explosive and shocking biography of Jose Mourinho - revealing the dark side of 'the special one'. When José Mourinho announced his return to English football, it sparked celebrations from fans and press alike. As one of the most charismatic figures in the game, his reappearance could surely only be a good thing… But is there a darker side to the Mourinho? A mischievous, scheming, even tyrannical quality to the man beneath the veneer of charm? As part of El Pais, Diego Torres is one of the premier investigative journalists in Spanish football, and in this explosive biography of 'the special one' he uncovers secrets and lies that will change the way we see Mourinho. From dodgy dealings to assassinations of players both outside and within his own team, and other shocking revelations, Prepare To Lose reveals Mourinho as a man far removed from the hero so many people consider him to be.

One of the most talked-about and bestselling books of last year, this is the no-holds-barred autobiography of a sporting legend driven to the brink of self-destruction. The bestseller that has everyone talking. In this, his first, autobiography, ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson pulls no punches and lays bare the story of his remarkable life and career. Co-written with Larry Sloman, author of Antony Keidis’s best-selling memoir ‘Scar Tissue’, this is a visceral, and unputdown-able story of a man born and raised to brutality, who reached the heights of stardom before falling to crime, substance abuse and infamy. Full of all the controversy and complexity that you would expect from a man who delighted as much as he shocked, this is a book that will surprise and reveals a fascinating character beneath the exterior of violence. If you think you know all about Mike Tyson, read this book and think again.

‘It is not possible even at great length to "pot" The Lord of the Rings in a paragraph or two. It was begun in 1936, and every part has been written many times… the labour has been colossal; and it must stand or fall, practically as it is.’ J.R.R. Tolkien was one of the most prolific letter writers of this century. Over the years he wrote to his publishers, his family, to friends (including C.S. Lewis, W.H. Auden and Naomi Mitchison) and to fans of his books. The letters present a fascinating and highly detailed portrait of the man in many of his aspects: as storyteller, scholar, Catholic, parent and observer of the world around him. They also shed much light on his creative genius and grand design for the creation of a whole new world – Middle-earth. This collection will appeal not only to the legions of Tolkien fans, but will entertain anyone who appreciates the art of letter-writing, of which Tolkien was a master. ‘I am nearly always written to as Tolkein (not by you): I do not know why, since it is pronounced by me always -keen.’

At last, football has its answer to Freakonomics, The Tipping Point and The Undercover Economist. Why do England lose?” “Why do Germany & Brazil Win?” “How have Spain conquered the World?” "Penalties - what are they good for?" “What is the price on achieving success and the true cost of failure?” These are questions every football fan has asked. Soccernomics (previously published as Why England Lose) answers them. Written with an economist's brain and a football writer's skill, it applies high-powered analytical tools to everyday football topics. Soccernomics isn't in the first place about money. It's about looking at data in new ways. It's about revealing counterintuitive truths about football. It explains all manner of things about the game which newspapers just can't see. It all adds up to a new way of looking at football, beyond clichés about "The Magic of the FA Cup", "England's Shock Defeat" and "Newcastle's New South American Star". No training in economics is needed to read Soccernomics but the reader will come out of it with a better understanding not just of football, but of how economists think and what they know.

From the people who brought you the bestselling Confessions of a Gp. From stampeding nudes to inebriated teenagers, young nurse Michael Alexander never really knew what he was getting himself into. But now, sixteen years since he was first launched into his nursing career - as the only man in a gynaecology ward - he's pretty much dealt with everything: body parts that come off in his hands; teenagers with phantom pregnancies; doctors unable to tell the difference between their left and right; violent drunks; singing relatives; sexism. . .and a whole lot of nudity. Confessions of a Male Nurse is a touching, shocking and frequently hilarious account of one man's life in nursing.