Best Selling Books by Stuart Martin

At once moving and lyrical, The Accidental Indies is a tale in which we join Christopher Columbus on a fantastical voyage through western seas and Western imagination. Robert Finley imagines, sings, charts, and paints the story of Columbus''s problematic 1492 expedition to the Caribbean, creating a world that is as vivid and compelling as the explorer''s own voyage to the misnamed "Indies". It is a journey through wondrous words that begins with Columbus''s earliest explorations when he first "tests the heft and roundness of this earth against his infant head" by stepping from the edge of his rocking cradle to come up short on the boards of the nursery floor. Finley charts a course for us through the days at sea, through the voyage itself, its records and commentaries, into the fraught territory of Columbus'' imaginary "Indies" and the representation of this New World on his return to Spain. This incisive and luminescent story, scrupulously grounded in sixteenth-century sources, illuminates the power that "naming" has to create a world - in this case a world still haunted by being the accidental Indies. It is a book about how we perceive and represent the world around us, about the creative and destructive power of language. Through its elaboration of the rich and lively ironies of the Columbus story, The Accidental Indies looks at the nature of storytelling itself.

Discover fearsome beasts, such as the snake-haired gorgans and the crocodile-headed Ammut, as well as creatures of beauty, such as the majestic phoenix and the graceful unicorn. Follow the Greek hero Theseus through the labyrinth to kill the bull-headed Minotaur. A book filled with roars and blood-curdling cries of creatures you pray never to meet.

The Schur algebra is an algebraic system providing a link between the representation theory of the symmetric and general linear groups (both finite and infinite). In the text Dr Martin gives a full, self-contained account of this algebra and these links, covering both the basic theory of Schur algebras and related areas. He discusses the usual representation-theoretic topics such as constructions of irreducible modules, the blocks containing them, their modular characters and the problem of computing decomposition numbers; moreover deeper properties such as the quasi-hereditariness of the Schur algebra are discussed. The opportunity is taken to give an account of quantum versions of Schur algebras and their relations with certain q-deformations of the coordinate rings of the general linear group. The approach is combinatorial where possible, making the presentation accessible to graduate students. This is the first comprehensive text in this important and active area of research; it will be of interest to all research workers in representation theory.

A Ragged Pen brings to the page five essays on memory. First delivered in Vancouver in the spring of 2005, these talks-by Robert Finley, Patrick Friesen, Aislinn Hunter, Anne Simpson and Jan Zwicky-examine the narrative challenges, lyric energy and questions of verity that surround the subject of memory in a creative context. Finley''s essay searches out appropriate, genuine voices for memories. Comparing photo narrative projects, his own and a friend''s, he proposes a form of storytelling that incorporates both memory and creation, a dialogue that speaks to, rather than for, the past. Within the discussion of narrative Zwicky posits a distinction between lyric and narrative treatments of memories, what each accepts about and tries to do with what memory delivers, and whether a difference in the degree of verity is part of this distinction. Hunter picks up the thread of verity and examines the discrepancy between seeing and imagining, the notion of "real" and the power of memory, drawing on the work of Borges, Seamus Heaney and recent science that calls into question commonly held perceptions of truth. Friesen begins with a childhood memory he suspects may be an invention, and opens onto the role of longing in memory and in poetry, challenging the assumption of past experience in longing, arguing for a note of loss in every new experience, a longing for what has never been. Simpson uses a myth of longing, that of Orpheus and Eurydice, to dig beneath metaphor, bringing new ideas and influences to the role of metaphor in social interactions and artistic endeavours. Together these essays make fascinating crossovers and offer fresh insight on memory and art. A Ragged Pen is a valuable new contribution to the study of poetics and narrative philosophy.

The anthology ''Thirty Canadian V.Cs., 23d April 1915 to 30th March 1918'' stitches together an illuminating tapestry of bravery, sacrifice, and heroism through the harrowing times of World War I, as seen and experienced by Canadian soldiers. With a diverse array of literary styles, from firsthand accounts to meticulously researched historical analyses, this collection magnifies the personal valor and collective might shown by Canadians during a significant period in military history. By providing a varied literary contextranging from soldiers diaries to academic essaysit invites readers to explore the multifaceted nature of war and valor, making it a seminal compilation in the study of Canadian military history and the Victoria Cross recipients. The authors, including seasoned military historian Stuart Martin, alongside contributions from the Canadian War Records Office and notable writers such as Theodore Goodridge Roberts and Robin Richards, bring to life the era''s geopolitical tensions, societal values, and the individual''s role within these grand narratives. Together, they form a chorus of perspectives highlighting the cultural and historical significance of the Canadian forces'' contributions, rightfully positioning them within the broader discussions of World War I''s legacy. This anthology, therefore, is not merely a collection of war stories but a critical examination of the Canadian identity in times of conflict. ''Reading ''Thirty Canadian V.Cs., 23d April 1915 to 30th March 1918'' will transport the audience into the trenches with the soldiers, allow them to grasp the gravity of the sacrifices made, and understand the immense pride these actions instilled back home. It is an essential volume for anyone keen on exploring the vast landscapes of military valor, Canadian heritage, and the stark realities of war through a prism of varied literary forms. This collection offers an unprecedented opportunity to engage with history, learn from it, and appreciate the breadth of perspectives it encapsulates. It is highly recommended for scholars, students, and any reader eager to delve into the depths of Canadian military history and its heroic figures.

Join Teddy and his friends for two fun adventures! Gilbert''s Birthday Surprise: 1-74047-243-8; Catch That Hat!: 1-74047-242-X

A butterfly is determined to make her grumpy friend Bull Ant laugh.

While panic gripped the nation in 1893, Grover Cleveland suffered his own secret ordeal on a yacht in Long Island Sound.