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Warriors' Wives: Ancient Greek Myth and Modern Experience
Epic poetry and tragic drama provide us with some of the richest ancient Greek depictions of women who are married to soldiers. In tales of the Trojan War, as told by Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, we encounter these mythical warriors' wives: Penelope, isolated but resourceful as she awaits the return of Odysseus after his lengthy absence; the war widow Andromache, enslaved and displaced from her homeland after the fall of Troy; the unfaithful and murderous Clytemnestra; and Tecmessa, a war captive who witnesses her partner's breakdown and suicide in the aftermath of battle. Warriors' Wives compares the experiences of these mythical characters with those of contemporary military spouses. Emma Bridges traces aspects of the lives of warriors' wives-mythical and real, ancient and modern-from the moment of farewell, through periods of separation and reunion, to the often-traumatic aftermath of war, to consider the emotional, psychological, and social impacts of life as a military spouse. By unearthing a wealth of contemporary evidence for the lives of the often silenced and unacknowledged partners of those who serve in the military, and by examining this alongside the ancient stories of warriors' wives, Warriors' Wives sheds fresh light on the experience of being married to the military.
Emma Bridges (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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A terrifying monster of a beast has captured Gervais's lady love, and he will stop at nothing to save his beauty. Posing as a gardener, the brave and strong Gervais attempts to study the beast that he longs to kill. Isabelle Mercier is the only woman he has ever cared for. When he sneaks his way inside the castle, Isabelle refuses to come with him. Could she have fallen for the beast? Is it too late for Gervais to save her? Of Rose and Cruelty also includes the short story 'The Cost of Rage'.
Nicole Zoltack (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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The kingdom knows their princess as Snow White, but the Queen Francesia, her stepmother, sees her for what she truly is, a monster. None other than the queen can see beyond the illusion of beauty. None see that she appears to be bone and ashes. No one else realizes that the child drinks blood and even kills. As the child grows, so does her thirst. Francesia knows she must stop Bone Ash, lest the princess devastate the entire realm. One will be the harbinger of the other's death, but who will survive? Of Bones and Ashes also includes the short stories 'The Cost of Treachery' and 'The Cost of Enchantment' as well as an alternative ending.
Nicole Zoltack (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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An imp named Ryszard Poppart can spin straw into gold, but can he outsmart the evil king who wishes to marry the miller's daughter? Ryszard loves Saxonia and desires to save the kingdom from the evil king. The miller's daughter, Galiana Mueller, agrees to help expose the king's terrible, selfish ways. As Ryszard spins gold for her to tempt the king with, he cannot help falling in love with her himself. The king soon demands Galiana's hand, wishing for more straw-spun-gold, more wealth, and more power. As he becomes corrupt entirely, Ryszard must utilize a power stronger than his magic, that of love or perhaps hope. Of Gold and Deceit also includes the short stories 'The Cost of Dominance' and 'The Cost of Intolerance'.
Nicole Zoltack (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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Cinderella's powers will destroy the Kingdom of Fantasia, and the only one who can save the kingdom is her 'wicked' stepmother. Lady Angelique puts her second husband to rest then tries to do right by her step-daughter Eleonore, but when Eleonore's mystical abilities put Angelique's own daughters' lives at risk, she makes the difficult decision to lock the girl in the tower to keep the family safe. After Eleonore's devil-bird minions unleash her on an unsuspecting royal ball, Angelique must join forces with the king to save Fantasia before Eleonore destroys it.
Nicole Zoltack (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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At only sixteen years of age, she is a beautiful terror, with her wavy blond locks and her shockingly violet eyes. Her skin is as fair as she is foul. Only I can stop her. Only I dare to rise up against her, for the sake of a kingdom that is not my own. Others may scorn me for interfering, but interfere I must. I will not allow this exquisite monster to harm more than she already has. Some might call me the monster, but I? I know the truth, and I will not hesitate to do what I must. This gripping retelling will make you question if perhaps the fairy had the right of it for placing the princess under the sleeping curse. The volume contains 'Of Slumber and Discord' and 'The Cost of Magic'.
Nicole Zoltack (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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How to Survive in Ancient Rome
The essential self-help guide to living in Ancient Rome, covering all areas of everyday life in this ancient civilization, from religious beliefs and travel through to what to wear. Imagine you were transported back in time to Ancient Rome and you had to start a new life there. How would you fit in? Where would you live? What would you eat? Where would you go to have your hair done? Who would you go to if you got ill, or if you were mugged in the street? All these questions, and many more, will be answered in this new how-to guide for time travelers. Part self-help guide, part survival guide, this lively and engaging book will help the listener deal with the many problems and new experiences that they will face, and also help them to thrive in this strange new environment.
L J Trafford (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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Living in Medieval England: The Turbulent Year of 1326
1326 was one of the most dramatic years in English history. The queen of England, Isabella of France, invaded the country with an army of mercenaries to destroy her husband's powerful and detested lover, Hugh Despenser the Younger, and brought down her husband, King Edward II, in the process. It was also a year, however, when the majority of English people carried on living their normal, ordinary lives: Eleyne Glaswreghte ran her own successful glass-making business in London; Jack Cressing the master carpenter repaired the beams in a tower of Kenilworth Castle; Alis Coleman sold her best ale at a penny and a half for a gallon in Byfleet; and Will Muleward made the king 'laugh greatly' when he spent time with him at a wedding in Marlborough. England sweltered in one of the hottest, driest summers of the Middle Ages; a whale washed ashore at Walton-on-the-Naze; and the unfortunate John Toly died when he relieved himself out of the window of his London house at midnight, and lost his balance. Living in Medieval England: The Turbulent Year of 1326 tells the true and fascinating stories of the men and women alive in England in this most eventful year, narrated chronologically with a chapter devoted to each month.
Kathryn Warner (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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Ven has her future all planned out. Her dance group is going places and so is she . . . Then she collapses. On stage. In hospital, Ven discovers that she has a medical condition-one that threatens to ruin everything. No more dancing . . . walking is challenging enough. But she doesn't want your pity. Ven is determined to have a big, exciting life. Sure, her future might be different, but it's not over . . . Because if you can't dance, you can always sing! Refreshing, uplifting and original, Sing if you Can't Dance is the unforgettable story of a teenager living life on her own terms.
Alexia Casale (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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July 1816-Kendra Donovan could use a distraction. The FBI agent has been dealing with a serious case of cold feet after impulsively agreeing to marry Alec, the Marquis of Sutcliffe. And if that isn't enough, there is also the tantalizing possibility that maybe, just maybe she could return to her own timeline. When Reginald Lansing, the Earl of Craymore, is found mortally wounded on the Duke of Aldridge's land, Kendra gets the distraction that she's been looking for. Lansing had been traveling with the Anahita Pink, a priceless pink diamond that can be traced to the lost treasure of King John, and has since vanished. Kendra begins to suspect that there's more to the crime than a robbery. Certainly, Craymore's life proves to be complicated. He had his sister committed to a madhouse to prevent her from marrying a fortune hunter, and recently he'd been heard arguing with his radical cousin. Anyone who managed to get their hands on the Anahita Pink would benefit. No one knows better than Kendra that humanity's darker impulses can cause devastating ripples. Kendra realizes that her investigation is a terrifying game of cat and mouse against a ruthless killer, who will stop at nothing to win.
Julie McElwain, Julie Mcelwain (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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The Invention of Jane Harrison
Jane Ellen Harrison (1850-1928) is the most famous female Classicist in history, the author of books that revolutionized our understanding of Greek culture and religion. A star in the British academic world, she became the quintessential Cambridge woman-as Virginia Woolf suggested when, in A Room of One's Own, she claims to have glimpsed Harrison's ghost in the college gardens. This lively and innovative portrayal of a fascinating woman raises the question of who wins (and how) in the competition for academic fame. Mary Beard captures Harrison's ability to create her own image. And she contrasts her story with that of Eugenie Sellers Strong, a younger contemporary and onetime intimate, the author of major work on Roman art, and once a glittering figure at the British School in Rome-but who lost the race for renown. The setting for the story of Harrison's career is Classical scholarship in this period-its internal arguments and allegiances and especially the influence of the anthropological strain most strikingly exemplified by Sir James Frazer. Questioning the common criteria for identifying intellectual 'influence' and 'movements,' Beard exposes the mythology that is embedded in the history of Classics. At the same time she provides a vivid picture of a sparkling intellectual scene. The Invention of Jane Harrison offers shrewd history and undiluted fun.
Mary Beard (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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It followed every major military victory in ancient Rome: the successful general drove through the streets to the temple of Jupiter on the Capitoline Hill; behind him streamed his raucous soldiers; in front were his prisoners, as well as the booty he'd captured, from enemy ships and precious statues to plants and animals from the conquered territory. Occasionally there was so much on display that the show lasted two or three days. A radical reexamination of this most extraordinary of ancient ceremonies, this book explores the magnificence of the Roman triumph, but also its darker side. What did it mean when the axle broke under Julius Caesar's chariot? And what are the implications of the Roman triumph, as a celebration of imperialism and military might, for questions about military power and 'victory' in our own day? The triumph, Mary Beard contends, prompted the Romans to question as well as celebrate military glory. Her work is a testament to the profound importance of the triumph in Roman culture-and for monarchs, dynasts, and generals ever since. But how can we recreate the ceremony as it was celebrated in Rome? How can we piece together its elusive traces in art and literature? Beard addresses these questions, opening a window on the intriguing process of sifting through and making sense of what constitutes 'history.'
Mary Beard (Author), Lucy Rayner (Narrator)
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