You may have to register before you can download all our books and magazines, click the sign up button below to create a free account.
In this powerful exploration of the significance of martyrdom today, Catherine Pepinster looks at the lives of over a dozen martyrs, past and present, to consider how ideas about giving up your life for your faith have changed over the centuries, and especially the way they often embody the clash between religion and politics.
During the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the Christian Church will take centre stage once again, as the established religion in England. But why does the Church have such prominence in state affairs, and should it keep this privileged position in 21st Century, multi-faith Britain? In 1953, millions across the world watched the first televised coronation of a British monarch. What they witnessed was a deeply religious, medieval Christian ritual. Elizabeth II's reign was profoundly shaped by her faith, expressed not only in her coronation vows but also in her 70 years as Queen, from her role as supreme governor of the Church of England, to her annual Christmas broadcasts, h...
In 1953, millions across Britain and the world were glued to their TV sets, watching the first televised coronation of a British monarch. What they saw was a deeply religious, medieval ritual. Since then Elizabeth II's reign has been profoundly shaped by her Christian faith, expressed in her coronation vows and in her 70 years as Queen, from her role as head of the Church of England, to her annual Christmas broadcasts, her encounters with Popes, Islam and the other religions of 21st Britain and the Commonwealth. Like her husband, Prince Philip, her faith can be described as her 'strength and stay' amid the turmoil of a nation becoming increasingly secular at the same time as her subjects bec...
Catherine Pepinster charts the relationship between the British and the papacy in the modern era, looking at how this relationship is coloured by its turbulent past. Despite the enmity of previous centuries, Pepinster uncovers surprising instances of influence of the papacy in British politics, the collaboration between Pope and politicians on key issues, the 'stealth minority' of Catholics occupying major positions in public life, and the modern relationship between the Papacy and the Crown. In addition Pepinster analyses the crucial role that Britain has played in Rome, uncovers the unexpected role of the British Foreign Office in the appointment of Pope Francis, and discusses the modern style of the papacy and how this functions on a global scale. Featuring exclusive interviews with Cardinals Nichols and Murphy-O'Connor, Rowan Williams, Lord Patten and former British Ambassadors to both the Holy See and Italy, this account of the contemporary relationship between Great Britain and the Pope offers both fundamental evidence and penetrating insights into this most fascinating of political relationships.
Catherine Pepinster charts the relationship between the British and the papacy in the modern era, looking at how this relationship is coloured by its turbulent past. Despite the enmity of previous centuries, Pepinster uncovers surprising instances of influence of the papacy in British politics, the collaboration between Pope and politicians on key issues, the 'stealth minority' of Catholics occupying major positions in public life, and the modern relationship between the Papacy and the Crown. In addition Pepinster analyses the crucial role that Britain has played in Rome, uncovers the unexpected role of the British Foreign Office in the appointment of Pope Francis, and discusses the modern style of the papacy and how this functions on a global scale. Featuring exclusive interviews with Cardinals Nichols and Murphy-O'Connor, Rowan Williams, Lord Patten and former British Ambassadors to both the Holy See and Italy, this account of the contemporary relationship between Great Britain and the Pope offers both fundamental evidence and penetrating insights into this most fascinating of political relationships.
In 1953, millions across Britain and the world were glued to their TV sets, watching the first televised coronation of a British monarch. What they saw was a deeply religious, medieval ritual. Since then Elizabeth II's reign has been profoundly shaped by her Christian faith, expressed in her coronation vows and in her 70 years as Queen, from her role as head of the Church of England, to her annual Christmas broadcasts, her encounters with Popes, Islam and the other religions of 21st Britain and the Commonwealth. Like her husband, Prince Philip, her faith can be described as her 'strength and stay' amid the turmoil of a nation becoming increasingly secular at the same time as her subjects bec...
Margaret Atwood is an internationally renowned, highly versatile author whose work creatively explores what it means to be human through genres ranging from feminist fable to science fiction and Gothic romance. In this timely new study, Gina Wisker reassesses Atwood's entire fictional output to date, providing both original analysis and a lively overview of the criticism surrounding her work. Margaret Atwood: An Introduction to Critical Views of Her Fiction: - Covers all of Atwood's novels as well as her short stories. - Surveys the critical reception of her fiction and the fascinating debates developed by key Atwood critics. - Explores the main approaches to reading Atwood's work and examines issues such as her interventions in genre writing and ecology, as well as her feminism, post-feminism and narrative usage, both conventional and experimental. Concise and approachable, this is an ideal volume for anyone studying the fiction of this major contemporary writer.
In Religion and the News journalists and religious leaders reflect on their interactions with one another and their experiences of creating news. Through a series of original contributions, leading practitioners shed light on how religious stories emerge into the public domain. Experienced journalists and religious representatives from different faith traditions critically consider their role in a rapidly evolving communicative environment. Aimed at journalists, faith representatives, religious leaders, academics and students this book offers a timely exploration of the current state of religious news coverage and makes an original contribution to the emerging media, religion and culture lit...
Would you tell your deepest secrets to a relative stranger? And if you did, would you feel vulnerable? Cleansed? Or perhaps even worse than you did before? Confession has always performed a complex role in society, always created mixed feelings in its practitioners. As an acknowledgement of sinfulness, it can provide immense psychological relief; but while aiming to replace remorse with innocence, its history has become inextricably intertwined with eroticism and shame. The Dark Box is an erudite and personal history; Cornwell draws on his own memories of Catholic boyhood, and weaves it with the story of confession from its origins in the early church to the current day, where its enduring p...
There are thousands of books about England, on the one hand, and Greece, on the other, but none which looks specifically and critically at the story of the relationship between the two countries and their peoples, and in particular at how England has influenced modern Greece, not always to the latter's benefit. This book has been written by a former British diplomat with a Greek mother and English father, who has lived for the last thirty years in Greece. The book gives a true picture of the good, the bad and the ugly, warts and all, up until today, despite the efforts of various party-politically influenced academics and officials to play down embarrassing facts which do not fit their agenda. The book will appeal to discerning tourists as well as to international historians, Anglophiles and Hellenophiles, and will inject more transparency into the story, in order to rock the boat of apathy, rather than paper over the cracks, and thus promote and improve relations between these two great–or at least once great–countries.