A Bloody Picnic

One of the crucial factors which kept Tommy going on the Western Front was his facility to see what was comic in the horror, deprivation and discomfort of trench warfare, an attitude which blossomed further in the rest areas behind the lines. The nature of the comedy ranged from gentle irony to a rougher hilarity that produced on belly laughs. Such laughter could arise from extreme physical pain and discomfort, from the provision of sustenance and from matters relating to dress, equipment and weapons. A further source of fun was bizarre events not dissimilar to situation comedy and pantomime. Moreover, a whole culture of humour surrounded Tommy's words and songs, and many trench pets – cats, dogs, horses, goats, even rats – were in on the joke in one way or another. Nor was it only the British soldiers who managed to find something to laugh about in the trenches – the Germans could sometimes see the funny side as well. A Bloody Picnic provides an unusual perspective on how soliders coped with the grim realities of the First World War.

This wartime biography follows the life of a Second World War B-17 bombardier from the beginning of the war to its conclusion. Based on the 150 letters the airman, Fred Lull, wrote home to his mother, much of the horrors of what he experienced off the wing of his plane, aircraft destroyed, dismemberment by flak, go unshared. Fred did not want his mother to worry and could not tell her: 'I noticed some movement and a flash of light out of the corner of my right eye. The plane that had been flying right next to us had exploded and simply disappeared.' Using the bombardier's combat flight record, research data and interviews of former B-17 crew members, the story unfolds, breaking through the barrier of an unwillingness and inability to tell loved ones of the smell and taste of war.

Tales of London's Docklands is an anthology of true stories, drawn from Henry Bradford's personal experiences as a Registered Docker in the Port of London when traffic through the docks was at its peak. Life as a docker was not for the faint-hearted; men were killed and injured every day, and the work was physically extremely arduous. Despite this, there was a spirit of camaraderie, and close teamwork was essential in the ship and quay gangs. Now that the DOcklands regeneration is virtually completed and the landscape has been transforend, it is important that memories of day-to-day life in the past are preserved. Henry Bradford's vivid anecdotes bring this lost world to life. Tales of London's Docklands will appeal to anyone whose relatives worked as dockers, to social historians, and to anyone with an interest in the history of London's East End, Tilbury Docks and wharves along the banks to the River Thames.

Skandar’s adventure among the warrior unicorns continues in this “riveting” (Kirkus Reviews) sequel to the instant New York Times and international bestseller Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Skandar Smith has achieved his dream: to train as a unicorn rider. But as Skandar and his friends enter their second year at the Eyrie, a new threat arises. Immortal wild unicorns are somehow being killed, a prophecy warns of terrible danger, and elemental destruction begins to ravage the Island. Meanwhile, Skandar’s sister, Kenna, longs to join him, and Skandar is determined to help her, no matter what. As the storm gathers, can Skandar find the key to stop the Island tearing itself apart before it’s too late for them all?

This book shows students the steps involved in the research process, the various strategies for conducting a valid social inquiry, and most importantly, the persuasiveness and elegance of reliable social research. It highlights the link between academic research and the real world. Included are carefully chosen examples of each of the major methodological techniques-survey, interviews, fieldwork observations, experiments, content analysis, secondary analysis and program evaluation. Also included are selections on sampling strategies, research ethics and both qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

When Frieda first met Min, with her golden hair and ivory bones, what struck her most was that Min was wearing a pair of African sandals, the sort made out of old car tyres. She was a silent, unhappy girl, dumped on Frieda's exuberant family in Johannesburg for the summer of 1964 so that her mother could go off with her new husband. In a way, Min and Frieda were both outsiders - Min, raised in the bush by her idealistic doctor father, and Frieda, daughter of a poor Jewish saxophone player who lived almost on top of a native neighborhood. The two girls, thrown together - the 'white kaffir' and the poor Jewish girl - formed a strange but loyal friendship, a friendship that was to last even through the terrible years of oppression and betrayal during the time of South Africa under Apartheid.

Cheer Up, Mate! is a compilation of comical tales and anecdotes from World War Two. Between 1939 and 1945 the world witnessed what is generally agreed to be the most horrific war in history. Millions died and millions more were physically or psychologically wounded by the conflict. Yet amidst the pain and devastation, people were not only able to survive, they also managed to maintain a sense of humour. For some, it was precisely this ability to laugh at their misfortunes (and those of the other side) that enabled them to solider on. This was especially true of the British, a nation whose reaction to more or less anything, up to and including someone’s house being bombed to rubble, tended to be, ‘never mind, have a cup of tea’. In this collection of stories, which covers the armed forces and civilians from both sides, Alan Weeks demonstrates how humour can survive even in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Carefree and beautiful, Peggy Yeats fell in love with an American serviceman stationed in Australia. After a hasty marriage in Queensland, Peggy's beau Hart was shipped off to war. During his absence, she gave birth to Diana Marie, the author who wrote this biography of her mother's life. When the war ended in 1945, the Australian wives of American servicemen received free passage to the United States to be reunited with their husbands whom they hadn't seen in years. Peggy, Diana, and hundreds of other Australian brides boarded the S.S. Lurline for the long voyage to the states. Peggy and Hart were reunited in San Francisco and the new family boarded a train to Wichita, Kansas, where they would live with Hart's parents until they could earn a living. Peggy found life in the United States difficult and longed to return to Australia. Weaving historical detail into the narrative, this poignant biography provides a vivid account of the life of one of more than 12,000 Australian war brides and of her journey to return her homeland. Dunny Mann's Picnic captures the feelings and thoughts of one woman's struggles and triumphs.