social life and customs

A respected London doctor invents a formula which turns him into an evil and ugly person who stalks the streets at night killing people, and by the time his friends discover his secret, it is too late.

A series of picaresque adventures set against the backdrop of a Japan still closed off from the rest of the world, Musui's Story recounts the escapades of samurai Katsu Kokichi. As it depicts Katsu stealing, brawling, indulging in the pleasure quarters, and getting the better of authorities, it also provides a refreshing perspective on Japanese society, customs, economy, and human relationships. From childhood Katsu was given to mischief. He ran away from home, once at thirteen, making his way as a beggar on the great trunk road between Edo and Kyoto, and again at twenty, posing as the emissary of a feudal lord. He eventually married and had children but never obtained official preferment and was forced to supplement a meager stipend by dealing in swords, selling protection to shopkeepers, and generally using his muscle and wits. Katsu's descriptions of loyalty and kindness, greed and deception, vanity and superstition offer an intimate view of daily life in nineteenth-century Japan unavailable in standard history books. Musui's Story will delight not only students of Japan's past but also general readers who will be entranced by Katsu's candor and boundless zest for life.

For Cubans, it seems, music and dance are only slightly less essential to life than breathing and eating. On the Caribbean island, no one needs an excuse to dance to the rich and varied rhythms of Cuban music. This book traces the development of Cuban popular music and dance styles. It chronicles how the meeting and melding of different cultural traditions on the island particularly Spanish and West African created a distinctive new music called son. In turn, son would be the foundation for a host of other dance-music genres that developed in Cuba. And, as the book shows, Cuban music and dance have had a significant influence beyond the island s shores. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos are offered in chapters through the use of a QR code, that, when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, a speech, or an instructional video. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader s comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader s knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

To truly understand a nation, one must know a bit about that nation s art. What kind or subjects do its leading novelists write about? Which themes preoccupy its major poets? Who are the most popular painters and sculptors, and what do their works depict? This book examines the major currents in Cuban art and literature, from colonial times to the present. The book also tells the stories of some of the country s most respected creative talents. These include the poet and patriot Jos Mart , who is beloved as the Apostle of Cuban Independence ; the novelist Alejo Carpentier, a major figure in Latin America s 20th-century literary boom ; the painter Amelia Pel ez del Casal, a leader of Cuba s avant-garde art movement; and Rita Longa, whose iconic sculptures adorn the capital city of Havana. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos are offered in chapters through the use of a QR code, that, when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, a speech, or an instructional video. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader s comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader s knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

In early nineteenth-century Yorkshire, the passionate attachment between a headstrong young girl and a foundling boy brought up by her father causes tragedy for them and many others, even in the next generation. Includes a selection of study aids.

"Explores the cultures across Israel, the people, lifestyles, food, politics, music, dance, religion, language, arts, architecture, education, sports and so on, and how they affect the culture of Israel"--Provided by publisher.

A graphic novel adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," in which a penniless orphan in England in the 1800s becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall and soon finds herself in love with her melancholy employer, Mr. Edward Rochester, a man with a terrible secret.

A graphic novel adaptation of Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield" about a young boy in nineteenth-century London who runs away from an unhappy home, finds employment in a wine factory, and becomes acquainted with a wide variety of characters in the city streets.

Collects the autobiographical writings of Alma Flor Ada. Presented in Spanish.

Tirso de Molina's three-act play featuring the legendary Don Juan and his exploits in Spain and by the seashore of Tarragona. Presented in Spanish.