Pocket Essential

More than eighty-five years after it ended in defeat for the Republicans and victory for the Nationalists headed by General Francisco Franco, the Spanish Civil War remains a subject of debate and contention. We live in a time of political polarization, with opposing sides holding entrenched and unalterable positions and A Short History of the Spanish Civil War sheds light on the consequences of such circumstances. It also presents a detailed but concise picture of this turbulent and pivotal moment in European history. The Spanish Civil War was a war of firsts: the first in which civilians were targeted, through the bombing of cities. It was also the first 'photogenic' war in history, the growth in photojournalism bringing images of the fighting and of the huge number of refugees that were created by the conflict to the newspapers and newsreels of other European countries. New weapons, technologies and strategies were tried out, rehearsing for the increasingly inevitable war on European soil. A Short History of the Spanish War examines the origins of this deadly conflagration which date back to the nineteenth century and which finds its causes in the issues of mass suffrage, social welfare reform, and land reform, as well as in the increasing tensions between urbanism and rural tradition. The course of the war is laid out, including descriptions of the major battles and incidents, incorporating details of the bombing of major cities, most harrowingly, of course, the bombing of civilians at Guernica, famously depicted in Pablo Picasso's painting of the atrocity. The reaction of the other nations of Europe is also examined – the 'non-intervention' promulgated by Great Britain and France, and the direct intervention of the fascist nations, Germany and Italy, in support of the Nationalist cause, support that took the form of troops, planes and armaments.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. Freud was one of the giants of 20th century thought. His ideas have been hugely influential not only in psychology but in all the social sciences and the arts. This looks at Freud's life from his birth in 1856 to his death in Hampstead in 1939. Each of Freud's major works is summarized, his central ideas are explored, and controversies over his methods and practices are examined. Did he, as some recent critics have alleged, turn his back on evidence of genuine child abuse in 1890s Vienna and prefer instead to ascribe it to fantasy and wish fulfilment? What were the reasons behind his terrible quarrel with Carl Gustav Jung? Does his "talking cure" of psychoanalysis actually work?

But who were the Anglo-Saxons, and where did they come from? A Short History of the Anglo-Saxons traces the fascinating history of this era and its people, from the early European migrants from tribes such as Angles, Saxons, and Jutes who traveled mainly to Britain after the end of Roman rule in 410, to the dramatic end of the Anglo-Saxon period following the victory of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. It covers their various kingdoms, such as Wessex and Mercia, as well as the numerous attacks on the prosperity and successes of the Anglo-Saxons by peoples such as the Vikings. From popular fiction such as The Hobbit to Game of Thrones to the world language of English, the continuing influence of the Anglo-Saxons can be found in many modern societies today. This Pocket Essential guide provides an indispensable introduction to everything you need to know about the Anglo-Saxon period.

The Korean War of 1950-1953 ended in a frustrating stalemate, the echoes of which reverberate to this day. It was the only conflict of the Cold War in which forces of major nations of the two opposing systems - capitalism and communism - confronted each other on the battlefield. And yet, in the sixty years since it was fought it has been strangely neglected, perhaps because no one was able to claim the victor's spoils. The War That Never Ended details the origins, battles, politics and personalities of the Korean War, a war for which no peace treaty was ever signed.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. From a topless Sophia Loren in a 1950s historical epic and the erotic obsessions of Fellini to the legacy of Sergio Leon's Westerns, Italian cinema has it all. Barry Forshaw leads readers through the glory of the Mediterranean arthouse, the Spaghetti Western, and everything in between, collecting a host of comprehensive essays on the subject and presenting all the key films in an easy-to-use reference.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. Classical purists say it isn't "real" music, yet it regularly tops charts and plays to sell-out concert hall audiences. This book looks at such topics as who have been the most influential composers, which scores have best served a film and why, and what have been the historical, social, and technological changes that have affected the industry. From Ben Hur to Star Wars and Psycho to Scream, film music has played an essential role in such genre-defining classics.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. Who can forget the antics of the Marx brothers in such classic comedy films as The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, and Duck Soup, which literally defined the cinematic term 1930's screwball comedy. This Pocket Essential includes a concise look at the incredible career of this unforgettable troupe, from their beginnings on the vaudeville circuit, to becoming Broadway stars, to their classic film stardom. All of the films, the co-stars, the plotlines, and all of the background tales are included. Also, the end of the film careers of the brothers is only part of the story, as Groucho, Harpo, and Chico all branched out into other areas of the business on both radio and television.

For more than 2,000 years utopian visionaries have sought to create a blueprint of the ideal society-from Plato to H. G. Wells, from Cloudcuckooland to Shangri-La. The utopian impulse has generated a vast body of work, encompassing philosophy and political theory, classical literature, and science fiction; yet these utopian dreams have often turned to nightmare, as utopia gives way to its dark reflection, dystopia. Taking the reader on a journey through these imaginary worlds, this work charts the progress of utopian ideas from their origins within the classical world to the rebirth of utopian ideals in the Middle Ages. Later we see the emergence of socialist and feminist ideas; while the 20th century was to be dominated by expressions of totalitarian oppression. Today it is claimed that we are witnessing the death of utopia, as increasingly the ideals that give rise to them are undermined or dismissed. These arguments are explored and evaluated here, as are contemporary examples of utopian thought used to demonstrate the enduring relevance of the utopian tradition.

The term "psychogeography" is used to illustrate a bewildering array of ideas, from ley lines and the occult to urban walking and political radicalism-where does it come from and what exactly does it mean? Psychogeography is the point where psychology and geography meet in assessing the emotional and behavioral impact of urban space. The relationship between a city and its inhabitants is measured firstly through an imaginative and literary response, secondly on foot through walking the city. This creates a tradition of the writer as walker and has both a literary and a political component. This guide examines the origins of psychogeography in the Situationist Movement of the 1950s, exploring the theoretical background and its political applications as well as the work of early practitioners such as Guy Debord and Raoul Vaneigem. Elsewhere, psychogeographic ideas continue to find retrospective validation in much earlier traditions from the visionary writing of William Blake and Thomas De Quincey to the rise of the flâneur on the streets of 19th century Paris and on through the avant-garde experimentation of the Surrealists. These precursors are discussed here alongside their modern counterparts, for today these ideas hold greater currency than ever through the popularity of writers and filmmakers such as Iain Sinclair and Peter Ackroyd, Stewart Home and Patrick Keiller. This guide offers both an explanation and definition of the terms involved, an analysis of the key figures and their work, and practical information on psychogeographical groups and organizations.

Gnosticism is the name given to various religious schools that proliferated in the first centuries after Christ, nearly becoming the dominant form of Christianity, but was eventually branded as heretical by the emerging Christian church. The long and diverse history of Gnosticism is recounted here, as well as reasons for its continued relevance today. Although some Gnostic beliefs are close to mainstream Christianity, others examined here include that the world is imperfect because it was created by an evil god who was constantly at war with the true, good God; that Christ and Satan were brothers; that reincarnation exists; and that women are the equal of men. Also covered is the influence Gnostics had on the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, psychologist Carl Jung, the Existentialists, the New Age movement, and writers as diverse as William Blake, W. B. Yeats, Albert Camus, and Philip K. Dick.

After nearly 1,000 books, half a dozen journals, two official inquiries, several million pages of declassified documents, dozens of TV documentaries, and hundreds of websites, is there anything left to say about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy? Hell, yes. The Kennedy assassination remains both the greatest whodunit of the post-World War II era and the best route into recent American history. Taking it as proved that Lee Harvey Oswald was indeed the patsy he claimed to be before he was murdered, this short book explores the major alternative theories produced by the critics of the official version, the major landmarks in the Kennedy assassination research, the disinformation produced on the subject since the event, and some startling recent work, which seems-finally-to lead to an answer to the question "Who killed JFK?"

Inspired by internet video shorts and the YouTube revolution? Trying to break into the film industry? You can prove yourself by making a great short film at film school-if you can afford to go to film school; if you can't, then you're going to have to make your films without money. You're going to have to film on a microbudget-like Shane Meadows, who made Where's the Money, Ronnie? before This Is England, and Guy Ritchie, who made The Hard Case before Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. With the technology available today, it's easier than ever to make a short film without the benefits of funding, but digital cameras and editing systems are only part of the story. The most important thing is the filmmaker. This guide gives all the information necessary to put together a short film production-from first idea to script to planning and casting to locations, shooting, editing, and distribution-along with a list of the 10 most common microbudget mistakes and how to avoid them.

For more than 30 years, from his earliest work in underground Arts Lab projects, through the From Hell and America's Best Comics period, to the current and controversial Lost Girls, Moore has pushed the perimeter of the comic's medium. Moore's work crosses genre boundaries like few others, ranging from farce and high comedy to the dark, grim work that epitomized the graphics novel and comics revolution of the late 1980s. This book examines recurring themes and how Moore's work has evolved over the years from his early comic work in Captain Britain and 2000 AD, through milestone series like V for Vendetta, Miracleman, Swamp Thing, and Watchmen, to the genre-stretching works Lost Girls and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. As well as an introductory essay, this book is a comprehensive survey of the many faces of Alan Moore's career-Moore the pop icon, Moore the performance artist and magician, Moore the novelist and, above all, Moore the writer who helped change the face of comics forever. It also contains a complete list of his works, including projects that never saw the light of day.

The publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859 was the culmination of more than 20 years of work by Charles Darwin, and the ideas he presented in it would lead to a fundamental change in the way we think about life on earth. Evolution was controversial at the time and now, as the bicentenary of Darwin's birth approaches in 2009, it remains the subject of bitter argument. As revolutionary as the theory was, it did not come out of thin air, but developed within the context of the scientific and philosophical thinking of the period. In order to arrive at a better understanding of the current debate, this book looks at key moments in Darwin's life and at the relevant aspects of the intellectual climate of the time which, taken together, would lead him towards the theory. It goes on to consider how evolution has developed, how its opponents have responded, and how the arguments between scientific rationalism and religious faith are much the same now as they were in Darwin's day.

More than any other city London has a secret history concealed from view. Unearthing the secret city and its forgotten inhabitants, this rediscovery encompasses a historical panorama from the Elizabethan age to the present day, introducing the magic of Dr. Dee and Simon Forman, the rise of the Kabbalah, and the occult designs of Wren and Hawksmoor. Elsewhere figures such as Spring-Heeled Jack and the Highgate Vampyre, and occult organizations from the Invisible College to the Golden Dawn are explained and explored. Also included are instructions for a series of four walks covering features of occult significance for the Elizabethan, 18th-century, Fin de Siécle, and contemporary periods; as well as an A-to-Z geographic dictionary of London's most resonant occult locations.

Fragments of the rich and complex mythology of the ancient Celts of pre-Roman Europe were preserved in the monasteries of early Christian Ireland and in stories first written down in medieval Wales. The exploits of Cúlchulainn and Fionn mac Cumhaill and of Deirdre and Rhiannon have their roots in the Iron Age and have come down to us from the tales of Celtic bards and storytellers. The myths relate epic stories of heroic ancestors, when the divine and mortal realms were intimately bound up with each other and gods and goddesses inhabited the natural world. The stories are rich with religious symbolism and give an idea of how the Celts perceived the world in which they lived. They also tell of the lives of the people themselves-kings and queens, husbands and wives, warriors and farmers. Along the Atlantic coast of Western Europe aspects of the oral culture of the Celts persisted against the tide of history and into the modern age. The languages and traditions of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Cornwall, and Brittany, together with the surviving myths, provide glimpses back into the Celtic world and are a continuing connection to a culture otherwise known through archaeology and the accounts of classical authors.

Western civilization began with the Greeks. From the highpoint of the 5th century BC through the cultural triumphs of the Alexandrian era to their impact on the developing Roman empire, the Greeks shaped the philosophy, art, architecture, and literature of the Mediterranean world. Beginning with the Homeric period, once believed to be a realm of myth, Paine takes the reader on a journey through more than 12 centuries of Greek culture. He shows what archaeologists have revealed of the Trojan Wars and Mycenae, outlines the glories of Athens at its height, and provides a gripping narrative of the struggle between the Greeks and the mighty Persian empire. The guide also highlights the careers of great political and military leaders, such as Pericles and Alexander the Great, and explores the importance of great philosophers, including Plato and Aristotle. Dramatists and demagogues, stoics and epicureans, aristocrats and helots all take their place in the unfolding story of Greek achievement.

In 1978 Superman made audiences believe a man could fly. Since then, superhero movies have shown that man can not only fly, but swing from webs through New York's concrete canyons, turn monstrous shades of green if suitably angry, and dress as giant rodents to safeguard the city streets. Today, there are more superhero movies than ever before as the cinematic skies are filled with caped crusaders and nocturnal vigilantes that continue to delight and excite filmgoers the world over. Through detailed analysis and fascinating facts, this guide explores how, in a single bound, the superhero has made the leap from the comic book page to the silver screen. So fasten your utility belt as you prepare to take flight with this must-read for fans of superheroes and blockbuster cinema.

With a reputation that is still rising as the world catches up with the prodigious outpouring of his imagination, and Hollywood repeatedly raiding his stories-Blade Runner, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly-Philip K. Dick remains an intriguing literary and cultural figure. At a time when most science fiction was about cowboys in outer space, Dick explored the landscapes of the mind, conjured fake realities, and was able to make readers believe six impossible things before breakfast. Perhaps best-known for Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, he embodied the counterculture a decade before the 1960s. This fully revised and updated look at Dick's world is a glimpse into a reality where psychiatrists come in suitcases, God speaks through cat food commercials and comes in a handy aerosol can, and where you might be a figment of someone else's imagination. This pocket-sized volume reviews and analyzes each of Dick's novels and provides a listing of other books and articles which have grappled with this genius.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. Bruce Springsteen grew from a disheveled, bearded singer of youthful street ballads to become the hottest name in the rock world. The resilience of the New Jersey troubadour has seen him top the album charts in four successive decades, and his epic world tours with the hard-working E Street Band are still sellouts well into the new millennium. This guide examines the growth of Bruce Springsteen's career, from the optimistic youth who wrote "Born to Run" to the respected heavyweight songwriter of today.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. At the end of World War II, the victorious Allies began unprecedented proceedings against captured top-ranking Nazis, and charging them with "crimes against humanity." This book looks at the Nuremberg Trials and the personalities involved, from Nazi defendants, including Herman Goering and Rudolf Hess, to the judges and the prosecuting and defending counsels. It provides a detailed chronology of the courtroom proceedings and refers frequently to the horrific events of Nazi rule. Nazi War Trials also examines some of the issues that were raised at the time, including the legal validity of the trials themselves.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a unique phenomenon which started life as a radio series in 1978 and was subsequently adapted into five best-selling novels, remade as a BAFTA-winning TV series, re-recorded as a chart LP, reinvented as a computer game, dramatized for the West End stage, and translated into more than 30 languages. For the first time, the full story is told in all its bizarre detail. Every variant of the story, every spin-off and cash-in is documented in context, the contradictory storylines are explained, the background to the many adaptations are chronicled, and the success of the different versions is analyzed. Based on 20 years of research, it includes an interviews with Douglas Adams.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. It sounds daunting: all those -isms, long technical words, weird French thinkers, and incomprehensible Germans. Most books providing introductions to "Literary Theory" are long-winded tomes, guiding dogged readers through the twists and turns of critical analysis and logic. This small volume goes to the heart of the key concepts of Literary Theory, explaining them in clear everyday language. It provides witty and memorable comments and quotations, and enables the student of literature to raise the most pertinent and challenging questions, which even university professors have difficulty answering.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. This book is a guide to the London novel, starting with its origins in the Victorian metropolis and moving through to the present day and the revival of London writing. It includes an examination of the occult tradition, London noir, the disaster novel, and the rise of psychogeography, and features both recognized classics and the work of lost London writers. From Bleak House to Hawksmoor, from Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde to White Chappell, Scarlet Tracings, London has continued to generate a series of fantastic visions, and Merlin Coverley traces their genesis and influence in this volume.

At the heart of the myths and legends surrounding St. George lies the story of an early Christian martyr persecuted by the Roman Empire around the third century AD. But England is only one country to have adopted this soldier saint as their patron. Others, including Germany, Hungary, and Portugal, claim him as their own,and there are churches dedicated to him in Ethiopia, Egypt, and Greece. His victory against the dragon can be interpreted as representing the bravery of an individual Christian or the eternal battle been good and evil. There are also clear parallels between his battle and those of pre-Christian heroes such as Perseus and Beowulf, he is identified with the Islamic hero Al Khidr, and he has been closely linked to the Green Man of Pre-Christian Myth.

A comprehensive guide to the captivating world of Italian cinema, from its artistic masterpieces to its thrilling genre films. Explore the rich history and evolution of Italian cinema, guided by expert Barry Forshaw. Discover the key directors who shaped the industry, from Fellini and Visconti to Leone and Argento. Delve into the diverse genres that define Italian film, including neorealism, giallo, and spaghetti westerns. Understand the cultural and social contexts that influenced these films, and appreciate their lasting impact on the world of cinema. Whether you're a film student, a cinema enthusiast, or simply curious about Italian culture, this is your essential companion. Uncover the hidden gems and iconic masterpieces of Italian cinema. Gain insights into the unique styles and techniques of Italian filmmakers. This revised and updated edition offers a fresh perspective on a cinematic legacy that continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. Perfect for: Film students, cinema enthusiasts, Italian culture aficionados.

The word "Noir" is used here in its loosest sense: every major living American writer is considered (including the giants Harlan Coben, Patricia Cornwell, James Lee Burke, James Ellroy and Sara Paretsky, as well as non-crime writers such as Stephen King who stray into the genre), often through a concentration on one or two key books. Many exciting new talents are highlighted, and Barry Forshaw's knowledge of-and personal acquaintance with-many of the writers grants valuable insights into this massively popular field. But the crime genre is as much about films and TV as it is about books, and this book is a celebration of the former as well as the latter. American television crime drama in particular is enjoying a new golden age, and all of the important current series are covered here, as well as key important recent films.

Now in paperback, a history of a neglected yet vital aspect of World War I history Images of World War I in the popular consciousness normally involve the bloody attrition of trench warfare, the miles of mud, the shattered earth, and the tangled miles of barbed wire. However there was another significant arena of war-the battle for control of the sea. In 1914 at the beginning of the war, Britain's maritime supremacy had remained unchallenged for around 100 years. Many expected another Battle of Trafalgar but advances in technology saw a very different kind of warfare with the widespread use of mines, submarines, and torpedoes. This book examines the events that led to war and the naval arms race between Britain and Germany. It traces the events of the war at sea looking at the major battles as well as the effects of unrestricted submarine warfare and the sinking of the Lusitania. It also profiles key figures such as Fisher, Beatty, Tirpitz, and Graf von Spee.

Winston Churchill was a soldier, writer, and politician and, after World War II, he became one of the world's greatest statesmen. But his reputation rests on his role as a war leader and, in particular, on the period between May 1940 and July 1941, when Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany. Since his death in 1965, a few dissenting voices have cast him as, among other things, an opportunist and war-monger. But, as flawed as he undoubtedly was, most modern historians and politicians still hold him in the highest regard. In order to gain a better understanding of this remarkable man, this book looks at some of the key moments in Churchill's life, including his role in the British Army's last cavalry charge in the Battle of Omdurman and his escape from a prisoner of war camp during the Boer War. It then focuses on those momentous times when Churchill's courage and force of character almost single-handedly dragged Britain back from the brink of defeat in World War II and onwards towards an eventual Allied victory.

An updated edition discusses some startling recent work which seems to lead to an answer to the ultimate conspiracy theory After nearly 1000 books, half a dozen journals, two official inquiries, several million pages of declassified documents, dozens of TV documentaries, and hundreds of websites, is there anything left to say about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy? Hell, yes. The Kennedy assassination remains both the greatest whodunit of the post-World War II era and the best route into recent U.S. history. In this short book, taking it as proved that Lee Harvey Oswald was indeed the patsy he claimed to be before he was murdered, Robin Ramsay looks at the assassination through the work of the researchers who refused to buy the official cover-up story that Lee Harvey Oswald was the assassin. He explores the major alternative theories produced by the critics of the official version, the major landmarks in the Kennedy assassination research, and the disinformation produced on the subject since the event.

All major living writers, new and established, are covered and the characteristics of their different styles of writing are considered. The writers are also mapped across all regions of England as well as Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Brit Noir offers unique, lively insight and, not solely confined to British crime fiction novels, it also celebrates the new golden age of British crime drama and popular television programs such as Sherlock and Broadchurch.

Covering territory from Rififi to Run Lola Run to Spiral, a guide to the edgy, gritty best of European noir fiction, films, and television The invasion of foreign crime fiction, films, and TV-and not just the Scandinavian variety-has opened up incredible new options for crime fiction lovers, but the sheer volume of new European writers and films can daunting. This book provides a highly readable guide for those wanting to look further than the obvious choices as well as a perfect shopping list for what to watch or read before that trip to Paris, Rome, or Berlin. Euro Noir presents a roadmap to the territory and is the perfect travel guide to the genre. From Italy, the guide discusses such influential authors as Andrea Camilleri and Leonardo Sciascia; Mafia crime dramas Romanzo Criminale and Gomorrah; and of the gruesome Gialli crime films. From France and Belgium, it covers important writers from Maigret's creator Georges Simenon to today's Fred Vargas; cult television programs Braquo and Spiral; and films from the classic heist movie Rififi to modern greats such as Hidden, Mesrine, and Tell No One. German and Austrian greats include Jakob Arjouni and Jan Costin Wagner, and such crime films as Run Lola Run and The Lives of Others. The best crime writing and filmmaking from Spain, Portugal, Greece, Holland, and other European countries are also covered.

Conspiracy theories are all here, but not just lined up to be ridiculed and dismissed. For among the absurd conspiracy theories currently proliferating on the internet, there are nuggets of real research about real conspiracies waiting to be mined. Fully sourced and referenced, this book is a serious examination of a fascinating phenomenon.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. In this book, Mark Campbell provides an informed introduction to the Agatha Christie phenomenon, including a biography of the great author, in-depth profiles of 10 of her most popular characters, analyses of the stories, and a section on film, TV, and stage adaptations. Appendices include an exhaustive biography and an overview of the best Christie websites around.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. This book offers a concise introduction to the appreciation and study of film. It begins with the nuts and bolts, an examination of how films are put together-framing, performance, setting, costume and editing-and then examines a number of approaches taken to film over the last half century, such as the auteur theory, structuralism, psychoanalysis, feminism, queer theory, and more. Applying these theories to films everyone will have seen, such as The Usual Suspects and Seven, the book also includes an overview of genres, national cinemas, and film movements worldwide.

Offering profiles of principal stars such as Jean-Paul Belmondo, Anna Karina, and Brigitte Bardot as well as reviews and analysis of all the major films in the movement, this is the perfect primer to the group of French filmmakers who have become synonymous with effortless style and urban cool The directors of the French New Wave were the original film geeks-a collection of celluloid-crazed cinéphiles with a background in film criticism and a love for American auteurs. Having spent countless hours slumped in Parisian cinémathèques, they armed themselves with handheld cameras, rejected conventions, and successfully moved movies out of the studios and on to the streets at the end of the 1950s. By the mid-1960s, the likes of Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, and Claude Chabrol had changed the rules of filmmaking forever, but the movement as such was over. During these key years, the New Wave directors employed experimental techniques to achieve a fresh and invigorating new style of cinema. Borrowing liberally from the varied traditions of film noir, musicals, and science fiction, they released a string of innovative and influential pictures, including the classics Le Beau Serge, Jules et Jim, and A Bout de Souffle. An introductory essay examines the social context of the movement in France as well as the directors' considerable influence on later generations of filmmakers across the globe. A handy multimedia reference guide at the end of the book points the way towards further New Wave resources.

Beginning in the 1830s and ending with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, the Victorian Era saw the British Empire-the largest the world had seen-dominate the world. British ingenuity in the fields of technological development and the heavy industry of its Industrial Revolution led to Britain being dubbed "the workshop of the world" while its Royal Navy policed the world's oceans helping to create what has become known as a "Pax Britannica." This book details the sweeping social and economic changes that took place during this period but also examines the events of the time and the lives of the eminent Victorians who contributed so much to British success-men and women such as Florence Nightingale, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson and Charles Darwin. This is the story of the greatest period in British history, a period that still resonates in today's Britain.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more. This pocket-sized reference book looks at this legendary rock band and analyzes its place in music history. Looking at each and every Jethro Tull album from a comprehensive perspective, as well as including concert trivia and biographical information and a look at the solo careers of band members past and present, this book for both the casual and hard-core fan offers insights that will enhance one's listening pleasure.