Figures Of The World

Figures of the World: The Naturalist Novel and Transnational Form overturns Eurocentric genealogies and globalizing generalizations about “world literature” by examining the complex, contradictory history of naturalist fiction. Christopher Laing Hill follows naturalism’s emergence in France and circulation around the world from North and South America to East Asia. His analysis shows that transnational literary studies must operate on multiple scales, combine distant reading with close analysis, and investigate how literary forms develop on the move. The book begins by tracing the history of naturalist fiction from the 1860s into the twentieth century and the reasons it spread around the world. Hill explores the development of three naturalist figures—the degenerate body, the self-liberated woman, and the social milieu—through close readings of fiction from France, Japan, and the United States. Rather than genealogies of European influence or the domination of cultural “peripheries” by the center, novels by Émile Zola, Tayama Katai, Frank Norris, and other writers reveal conspicuous departures from metropolitan models as writers revised naturalist methods to address new social conditions. Hill offers a new approach to studying culture on a large scale for readers interested in literature, the arts, and the history of ideas.

Created by two of the field’s leading experts, this unique introduction to international religious demography outlines the challenges in interpreting data on religious adherence, and presents a contemporary portrait of global religious belief. Offers the first comprehensive overview of the field of international religious demography – detailing what we know about religious adherents around the world, and how we know it Examines religious freedom and diversity, including agnostics and atheists, on a global scale, highlighting trends over the past 100 years and projecting estimates for the year 2050 Outlines the issues and challenges related to definitions, taxonomies, sources, analyses, and other techniques in interpreting data on religious adherence Considers data from religious communities, censuses, surveys, and scholarly research, along with several in-depth case studies on the global Muslim population, religion in China, and the religious demography of recently created Sudan and South Sudan Argues against the belief that the twentieth-century was a ‘secular’ period by putting forward new evidence to the contrary Provides resources for measuring both qualitatively and quantitatively important data on the world's religious situation in the twenty-first century

The 2022 edition of this annual bestseller has been completely revised and updated, with new features including the origins and destinations of migrants, the prevalence of paramilitary forces, levels of slum populations and a range of indicators tracking the effects of covid-19, among many others. It provides rankings on more than 200 topics covering 188 countries, together with detailed statistical profiles of 64 of the world's major economies, plus the euro area and the world itself, and challenges readers to test their knowledge with a quiz. If you want to know » which country imports the most arms » the countries with the highest life expectancy » where most mammal species are under threat » which country normally hosts most tourists » where to get the highest broadband speed » who has the highest percentage of covid-19 vaccinations this edition of Pocket World in Figures has the answers.

In this fascinating book, Steve Skiena and Charles Ward bring quantitative analysis to bear on ranking and comparing historical reputations by aggregating the traces of millions of opinions, just as Google ranks webpages. They present rankings of more than one thousand of history's most significant people in science, politics, entertainment, and all areas of human endeavor.

James Branch Cabell's fantasy book "Figures of Earth: A Comedy of Appearances" was published. It was included in Cabell's longer work, "The Biography of Manuel," which was published in 1921. Dom Manuel, the main character of the book, is a nobleman who lives in mediaeval Poictesme. The story follows his life and exploits. Manuel finds a mystical clay figure that comes to life and assumes the shape of a stunning woman named Niafer. This is how the story goes. The book chronicles Manuel's adventures as he rises to prominence, goes on expeditions, and runs into otherworldly creatures. Manuel ponders issues related to identity, meaning, and the nature of reality during the narrative. "Figures of Earth" is renowned for its philosophical implications and complex prose. In a multilayered story that defies categorization, Cabell tackles issues of love, ambition, and the pursuit of purpose in life. The book delves deeply into the human condition while also making sarcastic observations about society conventions. Cabell's work was sometimes criticized for what was seen as its irreverence, yet "Figures of Earth" is praised for its creative storytelling and literary experimentation. The book, which highlights Cabell's distinctive style and his contribution to the genre, is regarded as a masterpiece of American fantasy literature.

Listing of 100 people from around the world and from many different fields of endeavor, whose actions--the author has determined--have had, or will have, the greatest influence on the course of history.

Tim Cassedy’s fascinating study examines the role that language played at the turn of the nineteenth century as a marker of one’s identity. During this time of revolution (U.S., French, and Haitian) and globalization, language served as a way to categorize people within a world that appeared more diverse than ever. Linguistic differences, especially among English-speakers, seemed to validate the emerging national, racial, local, and regional identity categories that took shape in this new world order. Focusing on six eccentric characters of the time—from the woman known as “Princess Caraboo” to wordsmith Noah Webster—Cassedy shows how each put language at the center of their identities and lived out the possibilities of their era’s linguistic ideas. The result is a highly entertaining and equally informative look at how perceptions about who spoke what language—and how they spoke it—determined the shape of communities in the British American colonies and beyond. This engagingly written story is sure to appeal to historians of literature, culture, and communication; to linguists and book historians; and to general readers interested in how ideas about English developed in the early United States and throughout the English-speaking world.

A beautifully assembled kit is always enhanced by the presence of a well-painted figurine. This statement has become a profession of faith for the author of this book, Joaquin Garcia Guazquez, one of the world's armoured modelling elite; here he has chosen to give us the benefit of his experience painting figurines from WWII, the supreme period for military modelling. Very instructively, using a lot of photographs, and step by step he explains how to paint a successful figurine, from the choice of tools, from the work area to the preparation of the figurine, painting the flesh parts, the uniforms and the accessories, etc. This is required reading, intended to guide you and inspire you when painting figurines to go with your next armoured vehicle or action-packed scene. This Book is in English SELLING POINTS: * This book is intended to guide you and inspire you when painting figurines to go with your next armoured vehicle or action-packed scene. Illustrated throughout