Community News & Press Releases

Check out this amazing interview with our authors, Emily Strand and Amy H. Sturgis, who discussed their recently published book with us, "Star Wars: Essays Exploring a Galaxy Far, Far Away," with Meg Dowell on her podcast "Now This Is Lit: A Star Wars Podcast". You can listen to the interview on Spotify. Image credits: Meg Dowell on Twitter

Congratulations to Mark Ellingsen, the author of the book "Finding Peaks and Valleys in a Flat World: Goodness, Truth, and Meaning in the Midst of Today’s Mad Chase for Prosperity and Instant Feedback," for receiving a review from Pamela W. Proietti, Chaplain St. Paul Elders Services, Kaukauna, appearing in the "Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies," Vol. 35, 2023. (pp. 199-202): [...] Ellingsen makes creative use of Kierkegaard's timeless insights in this beautiful book, which also provides a powerful critique of Friedman's ideas--as well as the ideas of all those other commentators who mindlessly embrace the life of human despair that is being laid out for us by the seemingly relentless socioeconomic forces at work in the new era of a globalized world economy. [Extract from book review appearing in the "Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies," Vol. 35, 2023. (pp. 199-202). Reviewer: Pamela W. Proietti, Chaplain St. Paul Elders Services, Kaukauna, WI.] The book is available to order here: "Finding Peaks and Valleys in a Flat World"

Congratulations to Reagan Fancher, the author of the book "The Holy Warrior: Osama Bin Laden and His Jihadi Journey in the Soviet-Afghan War," for receiving a review from Dr. Jon Mikolashek, appearing in the "Journal of Military History", Vol. 87, No. 1. January 2023. (pp. 268-269): […] In his first work, author Reagan Fancher shows readers he has a bright future as a professional historian. […] does a great job of adding more layers to one of the twenty-first century’s most controversial figures. […] [Extract from book review appearing on the ‘Journal of Military History’, Vol. 87, No. 1. January 2023. (pp. 268-269) Reviewer: Dr. Jon Mikolashek (National Defense University, Joint Forces Staff College, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, Virginia) The book is available to order here: "The Holy Warrior: Osama Bin Laden and His Jihadi Journey in the Soviet-Afghan War" 2nd edition

Congratulations to Isabella Sarto-Jackson, the author of the book "The Making and Breaking of Minds: How social interactions shape the human mind," for receiving reviews from: Kevin N. Lala (School of Biology, University of St Andrews, UK), appearing in the journal 'Biological Theory', 18 July 2023. Elena Walsh (School of Liberal Arts, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities The University of Wollongong), appearing in the journal ‘Philosophical Psychology’, 30 Mar 2023. Sarto-Jackson’s marvelously compelling and rigorous book puts the very best psychoeducation into practice, in the process offering inspiration and optimism to thousands who have directly experienced trauma and abuse, or witnessed its impact. The closing sentence captures her ambition: “to pave the way for handing back options for life-affirming actions to the person afflicted, thereby fostering a commitment to long-term involvement and self-efficacy” (p. 241). Far from being victims of the dictates of our genes, escape really is in our hands. [Extract from book review appearing on the journal 'Biological Theory', 18 July 2023. Reviewer: Kevin N. Lala (School of Biology, University of St Andrews, UK). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13752-023-00442-4] Sarto-Jackson’s “The Making and Breaking of Minds” is a rich and original contribution to the fields of developmental psychology and preventative medicine. Its central claim is that the social environments we encounter in childhood and adolescence have a profound and historically under-appreciated impact on brain development and cognitive function in adulthood, predicting a wide range of health and behavioral outcomes. A particular focus is placed on the role of poverty, trauma, and neglect in childhood on later life outcomes (in particular mental illness, and propensity toward violence and antisociality). [Extract from book review on the journal ‘Philosophical Psychology’, 30 Mar 2023. Reviewer: Elena Walsh (School of Liberal Arts, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities The University of Wollongong). https://doi.org/10.1080/09515089.2023.2193242] The book is available to order here: "The Making and Breaking of Minds: How social interactions shape the human mind"

Congratulations to Meiqin Wang, the editor of the book "Socially Engaged Public Art in East Asia," for receiving a review from Anna K. Grasskamp, appearing in the journal 'Sehepunkte' (Rezensions journal für die Gesichtwissenschaften), Ausgabe 23 (2023), Nr. 7/8, issn 1618-6168: [...] this book is a milestone in the writing of Chinese and East Asian histories of art that will be equally useful to artists, curators, educators, scholars, and students worldwide. [Extract from book review appearing in the journal 'Sehepunkte' (Rezensions journal für die Gesichtwissenschaften), Ausgabe 23 (2023), Nr. 7/8, issn 1618-6168; Reviewer: Anna K. Grasskamp] The book is available to order here: Socially Engaged Public Art in East Asia

Congratulations to Diego Mantoan, the author of the book "Lionello Perera: An Italian Banker and Patron in New York," for receiving a review from John Paul Russo, University of Miami appearing in ' 'Italian Americana,' 41.1 (Winter 2023), pp. 83-85: [...] This magisterial biography could not have been written without extensive bibliographic and archival research on both sides of the Atlantic. [...] [Extract from review appearing at the journal 'Italian Americana,' 41.1 (Winter 2023), pp. 83-85. Reviewer: John Paul Russo, University of Miami.] The book is available to order here: Lionello Perera: An Italian Banker and Patron in New York

Congratulations to Willemijn de Jong, Eriko Aoki and John Clammer, the editors of the book "Arts in the Margins of World Encounters," for receiving a review from Paola von Wyss-Giacosa appearing in 'Anthropos,' 118.2023.1. (pp. 226-228): All chapters in the volume demonstrate the epistemological relevance of the idea of “margins,” be it by asking where they are to be located, who determines or redetermines them, or whether a particular attention to them may transform them, their aesthetics and potential, their strength and power, which should not be underestimated. Margins, or peripheries, however conceived, may be described as a zone for demarcation, for transgression, for resistance, as dynamic spaces highlighting– if by contrasting and challenging them – conventions and norms. Precisely because they can be constructed and indeed are constructed, and this by different actors with different agendas, “margins” can open thinking spaces. Find out more about the journal here. The book is available to order here: Arts in the Margins of World Encounters

Congratulations to María Isabel González Cruz, the editor of the book "Discourses and Identities in Romance Fiction", for receiving a review from Francesca Pierini appearing in 'Journal of Popular Romance Studies,' vol. 12. (2023): [...] this collective volume edited by María-Isabel González-Cruz, is a study of import not only to the field of (popular) Romance Studies, but to literary criticism 'tout court.' Published in a bilingual edition—in Spanish and English—and comprised of eight chapters that explore a corpus of romance novels published in English and set mostly in the Canary Islands—and to a lesser extent in the Portuguese island of Madeira—the volume might be mistakenly assumed to keep its focus narrow. In truth, despite its circumscribed geographical scope, it opens a window on the Anglophone literary construction of Southern Europe as a space in partial discontinuity with the modern and the postmodern worlds, a setting particularly appropriate for intercultural encounters and love stories that incorporate a component of time-travelling, of going back in time to reconnect with an allegedly simpler dimension of traditional ideals and values. As such, the study, by shedding light on recurring descriptive patterns and discursive tropes employed in recreating the Canarian archipelago, brings to the surface meaningful assumptions and ideologically grounded views on the cultures and peoples of Southern Europe in general and islanders specifically. [...] [Extract from book review appearing at the 'Journal of Popular Romance Studies,' vol. 12. (2023). Reviewer: Francesca Pierini] Read the whole review here. The book is available to order here: Discourses and Identities in Romance Fiction

Conngratulations to Ana Isabel Simón Alegre, the editor of the book Del salvaje siglo XIX al inestable siglo XX en las letras transatlánticas: Una mirada retrospectiva a través de hispanistas that just received three excellent reviews from: Karina M. Walker. Ámbitos Feministas, vol. 11, spring 2023, pp. 145-147 Benita Sampedro. Journal of Spanish Cultural Studies, May 2023, pp. 1-4 Pamela Fuentes. 'New Books Network ES', May. 11, 2023 This selection of essays gathered and edited by Ana I. Simón Alegre takes the reader on several interesting passages, observing the intersections of critical thought, movement, and artistic endeavors across the Atlantic. In spite of the heterogeneity of topics it contains, the volume is cohesive and logically organized, and a pleasure to read. I would greatly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Hispanic Transnational studies, but the essays it contains touch many topics and would be useful to those interested in a wide variety of Hispanic Studies topics, as well as women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. [Extract from book review appearing at the journal 'Ámbitos Feministas,' vol. 11, Spring 2023, pp. 145-147. Reviewer: Karina M. Walker (Hartwick College)] […] ofrece un estudio consistente, sistemático, comprometido y capaz de la producción textual y artística de un extenso colectivo de mujeres a ambos lados del Atlántico entre los siglos XIX y XXI. Es, por lo tanto, un libro fundamental para llevar a cabo un acercamiento a la historia cultural de esta época desde una perspectiva de género, y es también una reivindicación académica de las letras transatlánticas desde el activismo femenino. Benita Sampedro Vizcaya Hofstra University [Extracto de reseña del libro publicada en el 'Journal of Spanish Cultural Studies, Mayo 2023, pp. 1-4. Benita Sampedro (Hofstra University); https://doi.org/10.1080/14636204.2023.2207991 ] [...] La combinación de estos tres ejes ofrece en este libro una aproximación novedosa dentro de la disciplina del hispanismo y de los estudios transatlánticos. Este libro, pues, se ofrece como una herramienta útil para continuar reflexionando acerca de cómo las rutas transatlánticas del conocimiento continúan alimentando el desarrollo de las humanidades en aras de una comunidad que supera cualquier tipo de frontera. Por último, esta obra pretende constituirse como material pedagógico a través de su apoyo a ideas como la justicia social, el activismo o el intercambio de conocimiento como parte fundamental en las conexiones entre la amplia comunidad de personas hispanohablantes y los centros de producción intelectual y cultural a lo largo de las amplias costas atlánticas. [Extracto de reseña del libro publicada en 'New Books Network ES', May. 11, 2023. Pamela Fuentes. https://newbooksnetwork.com/es/del-salvaje-siglo-xix-al-inestable-siglo-xx-en-las-letras-transatl%C3%A1nticas-una-mirada-retrospectiva-a-trav%C3%A9s-de-hispanistas ] The book is available to order here: Del salvaje siglo XIX al inestable siglo XX en las letras transatlánticas: Una mirada retrospectiva a través de hispanistas

Congratulations to Richard M. Chalfen, the author of the book "Snapping and Wrapping: Personal Photography in Japan", for receiving an outstanding review from Dr. Cathrine Bublattzky, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Tübingen University, Germany, published in the Journal: 'Visual Anthropology Review' Vol. 0, Issue 0 (2023), pp. 1–4, pp. 1–4. ISSN 1058-7187, online 1548-7458 (16 February 2023). © 2023 American Anthropological Association. In his latest book “Snapping and Wrapping: Personal Photography in Japan” (2021), distinguished anthropologist Richard Chalfen (Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University) presents the results of his outstanding re-search on photography and culture in Japan. With its focus on the “social life of personal photography” (Chalfen, 2021, 8), this fascinating book is instructive for students and scholars in the related fields of cultural and visual anthropology, as well as those with a general interest in photography of the everyday. […] [Extract from book review appearing on the journal 'Visual Anthropology Review,' Vol. 0, Issue 0 (2023), pp. 1–4. Reviewer: Dr. Cathrine Bublattzky, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, Tübingen University, Germany] The book is available to order here: Snapping and Wrapping: Personal Photography in Japan

Congratulations to Grant W. Smith, the author of the book Names as Metaphors in Shakespeare’s Comedies that just received three reviews from: Adina Chirilă, West University of Timișoara. 'Onoma' (Journal of the International Council of Onomastic Sciences), 57 (2022), pp. 321–325 Dorothy Dodge Robbins, Louisiana Tech University. 'Names, Vol. 70, Nº 2, June 2022, pp. 54-56. Luisa Caiazzo (Potenza, Italy). RION (Rivista Italiana di Onomastica), XXVIII (2022), 2. Grant W. Smith’s Names and Metaphors in Shakespeare’s Comedies brings service to semiotics, literary studies, literary onomastics, as a humanistic field, and to the study of onomastics in national literatures, by force of example. It also indelibly marks the traductological aspects concerning Shakespeare’s works, and mediates and gives a sturdy foundation to various (theatrical, intimate) experiences that the public may have with the comedies of William Shakespeare. [Extract from book review appearing at 'Onoma' (Journal of the International Council of Onomastic Sciences), 57 (2022), pp. 321–325. Reviewer: Adina Chirilă, West University of Timișoara, Romania] Through a wide semiotic lens, Smith identifies onomastic patterns and practices both within these fourteen individual plays and across the Bard’s comedic oeuvre. Further, Smith narrows his focus to examine the associative and lexical properties of individual names in a scrupulous fashion, play by play. His extensive, organized, and informative study will benefit Shakespearean scholars and will, no doubt, be of interest to more general names enthusiasts. Because each play receives its own chapter in “Names as Metaphors in Shakespeare’s Comedies,” readers have several options as they maneuver through Smith’s study. [Extract from book review appearing at 'Names, Vol. 70, Nº 2, June 2022, pp. 54-56. Reviewer: Dorothy Dodge Robbins, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Lousiana] Infine, la cura che trasuda dai particolari più piccoli è indicativa della ricercatezza con cui Smith dipinge il variegato mondo onomastico delle commedie di Shakespeare espiega la reputazione che si è guadagnato nel firmamento internazionale dell’onomastica letteraria. Tuttavia, il pregio di questo volume sta nel fatto che, oltre ad offrire una ricerca ampia e articolata dei nomi come metafore nelle commedie di Shakespeare, propone una cornice teorica e modelli analitici che possono essere applicati in generale nel campo dell’onomastica letteraria offrendo un contributo vivace al dibattito sul potenziale ‘significato’ dei nomi. [Extract from book review (ITALIAN) appearing at the journal RION (Rivista Italiana di Onomastica), XXVIII (2022), 2. Reviewer: Luisa Caiazzo (Potenza, Italy)] The book is available to order here: Names as Metaphors in Shakespeare’s Comedies

Tuesday 6th June 2023, 19:00 - 20:30 Swedenborg Hall, Swedenborg House, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH and via Zoom Vernon Press wants to invite you to the talk on James Pearce's book "The Use of History in Putin's Russia" that will be held on 6th June 2023, 19:00 - 20:30 in Swedenborg Hall, Swedenborg House, 20/21 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2TH and via Zoom. The Use of History in Putin's Russia The talk Russia has been described as a country walking forwards facing backwards. The past is very present in the halls of the Kremlin, and surrounds the Russian public from their bus stops, through school, bookshops, parks and all the way home to their television screens. Russia’s national history is inseparable from the politics of Putinism, often serving as a policy and a unification tool in society. In the Russian state’s view, patriotism goes hand in hand with accepting the ‘right’ historical narrative, and should, ideally, form the basis of society’s worldview. More recently, Russia’s past became the backdrop for invading Ukraine. However, using the past to project a bright future and secure legitimacy is the historical norm in Russia – and much of today’s narrative is recycled. In his talk Dr James Pearce will look at the use of history in contemporary Russia under the reign of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. He will consider whether history has become a replacement for ideology and public politics in lieu of a vision for Russia’s future. He will unpack what the ‘right' narratives are in contrast to the suppressed and past alternatives, and assess its impact in civil society. Finally, Dr Pearce will consider what the implications of the invasion mean for the future of a ‘shared history’ with the former Soviet republics. More on the book History is not just a study of past events, but a product and an idea for the modernisation and consolidation of the nation. ‘The Use of History in Putin’s Russia’ examines how the past is perceived in contemporary Russia and analyses the ways in which the Russian state uses history to create a broad coalition of consensus and forge a new national identity. Central to issues of governance and national identity, the Russian state utilises history for the purpose of state-building and reviving Russia’s national consciousness in the twenty-first century. Assessing how history mediates the complex relationship between state and population, this book analyses the selection process of constructing and recycling a preferred historical narrative to create loyal, patriotic citizens, ultimately aiding its modernisation. Different historical spheres of Russian life are analysed in-depth including areas of culture, politics, education, and anniversaries. The past is not just a state matter, a socio-political issue linked to the modernisation process, containing many paradoxes. This book has wide-ranging appeal, not only for professors and students specialising in Russia and the former Soviet Space in the fields of History and Memory, International Relations, Educational Studies, and Intercultural Communication but also for policymakers and think-tanks. Who is James Pearce? James C. Pearce completed his PhD in 2018 at Anglia Ruskin University. Pearce has conducted research in the Russian Federation since 2015 on matters related to historical memory in the public space and education, the discipline of history as well as Russian foreign policy in the twenty-first century. He has taught Political Science, History, and International Relations at three institutions in the United Kingdom and Russia, and presented his research at multiple international conferences in two languages. James currently teaches in Moscow and is developing his research on the role of historical memory in Russian elections, and Russian students’ attitudes towards the new historical narratives. How can you attend the talk? You can attend either in person on 6th June 2023 in Bloomsbury Way, London, or via Zoom. To book your place, please fill in the form here.