Nancy visits a movie set and finds terror on location! World-famous director Hank Steinberg is filming a horror flick in Nancy's hometown of River Heights. The movie tells a spine-tingling story about a haunted house. Most shocking of all, though, is what's going on across the street at an old Victorian mansion called Fenley Place. Whatever happens on the movie set is mysteriously duplicated in the mansion: red smoke billows from the chimney, a ghostly figure appears in the window, and blood oozes from the walls. The special effects are a real scream, but Nancy must find out who is behind them before the movie -- and the mansion -- reach the final, horrifying climax!
Nancy and her friends are on an epic quest to discover the identity of a treacherous Greek scholar in this fifteenth book of the Nancy Drew Diaries, a fresh approach to the classic mystery series. Nancy, Bess, and George are excited to attend Oracle College’s annual Greek mythology themed gala. But the festive sprit turns troubled when a student falls from the balcony mid-speech. Nancy’s investigations quickly reveal this was a case of collegiate sabotage. Can she find the campus menace before someone else gets hurt?
Venetian art connoisseur, interior designer, and hotelier Francesca Bortolotto Possati knows the intricacies of Venice. To have her as a guide is to experience firsthand her passion for the private side of the mythic city whose daily visitors outnumber its population. Join her to visit artists’ studios, elegant Venetian friends, and palaces’ secrets. Everywhere one wanders, a sense of history saturates the buildings and landscapes, harking back to the artists of the Renaissance and the chic masquerade balls of centuries past.The discerning eye of photographer Robyn Lea makes this book a revelation of the Venice of dreams, which will surely allow readers to see this iconic destination through new eyes.A sentimental foreword by Jeremy Irons perfectly complements this stunning volume.
When Kristy reluctantly takes part in a hazing prank for her softball team, she worries that her little stepsister, Karen, will find out the truth and think badly of her.
Nancy is held hostage and it's up to Bess and George to save the day...and their friend! What started out as a simple undercover mission at a beauty pageant in New York City has turned into complete chaos! The pageant's sponsor, Pretty Face Cosmetics, knows that Nancy has uncovered a big secret about their product, and now she's in serious trouble. They want to keep her quiet - no matter what it takes.
Pagodas in Play analyzes the treatment of China in the imaginative and spectacular world of eighteenth-century Italian opera. It shows how Italians used perceptions of Chinese culture to address local and transnational developments, particularly Enlightenment and secular reform initiatives. Its focus on the texts and performance practices of opera, an entertainment form accessible to a wide public, reveals cultural operations and identities harder to detect in non-fictional reformist writings, the texts traditionally privileged to explain Italian mediations of Enlightenment ideas. In its close reading of nine libretti of the most salient Settecento operas treating China (opere serie and opere buffe by authors including Metastasio, Zeno, Goldoni and Lorenzi), Pagodas in Play differentiates Italian iterations of Chinese culture from French and English counterparts. It further challenges certain tenets of orientalism, showing how it operates when nationalist and/or colonialist projects are absent, and how orientalist practices in eighteenth-century Italy exhibit early on the complexity some scholars locate only in the twentieth century. Adrienne Ward teaches Italian literature and culture at the University of Virginia.
This collection of essays emerges from a two-day international conference held at the University of Northampton, UK. It contains the best of the papers presented by 45 delegates from 12 countries (UK, India, USA, Canada, Italy, France, Ireland, Australia, Romania, Japan, Germany, Portugal) involving both established academics and new scholars. The collection is divided into three parts: Part 1: ‘Medieval and Early-Modern Cities: Performance and Poetry’, Part 2: ‘Defining Urban Space: the Metropolis and the Provincial’, and Part 3: ‘Modern and Postmodern Cities: Marginal Urban Identities’. The chapters explore the nature of the modern city in literature, history, film and culture from its origins in the early-modern period to post-modern dislocations and considers the city as a context within which literature is created, structured, and inspired, and as a space within which distinct voices and genres emerge. Much interest has developed recently on the city and its contexts but there is a tendency to focus on London (for example there is the journal Literary London: Interdisciplinary Studies in the Representation of London and the annual Literary London Conference, a major conference that has run since 2002). This collection fills an important gap in the market by having a truly global focus. "Joan Fitzpatrick’s The Idea of the City represents a fascinating snapshot of the current state of literary urban studies. Conference proceedings can often seem diffuse or tokenistic, but this collection offers unity on several levels. For a start, many of the contributors ask similar questions of their material, approaching it with an informed awareness of the ways in which the city has been theorised as well as actually traversed from the medieval period to the present. While one would expect work of this type and standard from established and widely-published scholars such as Pamela Gilbert and Julian Wolfreys, it is refreshing to see how new researchers are blending the cartographic with the psychological to raise important questions about the perception, analysis, and mythologisation of urban and metropolitan space. The collection is impressively eclectic, ranging from Petrarch’s Avignon to modern Los Angeles, and from 18th century Lichfield to operatic re-imaginings of Venice. As I said, however, the collection is unified at a deep level by the contributors’ shared interest in city writing, and by their conviction that there is a complex relationship between space, place, and self. This means that the book would be of use and interest to those working on individual writers (including contemporary novelists such as Niall Griffiths, on whom little has yet been published) and in the more general areas of urban and cultural studies and critical theory. The collection as a whole allows the reader to revisit the ideas of influential works from the previous decade, such as Keith Tester’s The Flâneur (1994), Sophie Watson and Katherine Gibson’s Postmodern Cities and Spaces (1995), and Susana Onega and John Stotesbury’s London in Literature: Visionary Mappings of the Metropolis (2002). It is therefore both a useful round-up of established ideas from various city-centred disciplines, and a starting point for the fresh consideration of enduringly suggestive material." —Dr Nick Freeman, Loughborough University, Author of Conceiving the City: London, Literature, and Art 1870-1914 "In this substantial volume the editor has assembled an international line-up of scholars working on the city from the Renaissance to the present. This is an important and timely work that has depth as well as breadth. Interdisciplinary and cross-period collections like this which straddle several historical periods run the risk of appealing only in part to coherent scholarly communities, but Dr Fitzpatrick has structured the collection in a way which plays to the strength of critics working within particular periods while clearly displaying the latticework of links between the book's strongly marked sections. There is an excellent balance between historical and theoretical readings, between textual and contextual approaches, and between interventions that are author or text based and those that deal with broader themes and issues. The range of contributors is matched by the richness and variety of perspectives. I would strongly recommend this book to students working in the early modern period, and also to those interested in modern developments. It is a comprehensive, intelligently organized and richly researched volume that is likely to be well received, well reviewed and well read. I will certainly be ordering copies for my own University library and including it on reading lists for future courses." —Professor Willy Maley, University of Glasgow
On The Tube bound for The Rialto Theatre on London's Shaftesbury Avenue, Jesse Millette is in a world of his own as he contemplates his life and what he wishes to become, but the noise of the world in which he sits calls to him, and before he knows it, he's chasing through one of London's busiest Tube stations with his two friends at his heels in pursuit of a man whom has stolen his wallet! If Jesse believed that such thievery would be the end of the thrilling events of that night, he was sorely mistaken for the night of which you will read of is the night which will change Jesse's life forever, and you will now join him on his journey as he becomes embroiled in a murder mystery of tragedy, drama, deception, and danger...
Immerse yourself in the dazzling world of the 1920s with Michael Arlen's "The Green Hat," a captivating novel that epitomizes the glamour, passion, and tragedy of the Jazz Age. This remarkable story introduces readers to one of literature's most unforgettable heroines and delves into themes of love, loss, and societal transformation. Meet Iris Storm, the enigmatic and free-spirited protagonist who navigates the social whirl of post-World War I London with her striking green hat as a symbol of her unconventional life. Through Iris's tumultuous relationships and daring escapades, Arlen explores the era's changing morals and the complex nature of human desire. The narrative is rich with dramatic plot points, from scandalous love affairs to moments of profound introspection. Iris's character development is central to the story, revealing a woman shaped by both personal tragedy and a relentless quest for meaning in a rapidly evolving world. Key passages highlight her resilience and vulnerability, making her a deeply compelling figure. Themes of love, freedom, and societal expectations are woven throughout the novel. Arlen uses Iris's story to comment on the broader cultural shifts of the 1920s, offering insights into the conflict between old-world values and the new era's liberated attitudes. The motifs of decadence and existential search give the book a timeless resonance. With a tone that balances wit and melancholy, "The Green Hat" captures the essence of its time while also presenting timeless human dilemmas. Arlen's lyrical prose and sharp dialogue make the novel a literary delight, full of vivid imagery and memorable scenes. Since its publication, the book has been celebrated for its stylistic brilliance and its deep emotional impact. It remains a favorite among fans of classic literature and those interested in the cultural history of the 1920s. Engage with "The Green Hat" and experience the highs and lows of a bygone era through the eyes of Iris Storm. Whether you're a lover of historical fiction, a fan of dramatic tales, or simply curious about the Jazz Age, this novel offers a richly rewarding read. In conclusion, "The Green Hat" is more than just a novel—it's a vivid portrait of an era and a poignant exploration of the human spirit. Michael Arlen's masterful storytelling and the unforgettable character of Iris Storm make this book a must-read for anyone looking to be transported to the glamour and heartbreak of the 1920s. Don't miss your chance to discover the allure of "The Green Hat." Get your copy today and join the countless readers who have been enchanted by Arlen's literary gem. Don't miss your chance to dive into the dazzling world of Iris Storm. Let "The Green Hat" take you on a journey through love, scandal, and self-discovery in the vibrant 1920s. Grab your copy now and be swept away by Michael Arlen's captivating storytelling.
