Roger Clark

A critical examination of Ian McEwan and his novel, "Enduring Love", this title forms part of a series that aims to provide accessible and informative introductions to some of the most popular, acclaimed and influential novels of recent years. A team of contemporary fiction scholars from both sides of the Atlantic has been assembled to give a thorough and readable analysis of each of the novels in question. The books in the series all follow the same five-part structure: a short biography of the novelist; a full-length study of the novel, drawing out the most important themes and ideas; a summary of how the novel was received when it was first published; a summary of the novel's standing today, including any film or television adaptations and a helpful list of discussion questions, suggestions for further reading, and useful websites.

Set in the early years of the 20th century, when cars and phones were still a novelty, when 1,500 people drown after the Titanic hits an iceberg, with World War I fast approaching, and the Spanish Flu kills more people than die in the fighting, Mist of Tears brings to life the hopes and tragedies of two Ontario families. This is the true story of two people whose destinies become inextricably entangled and whose fates are determined by their strong characters, as well as by the powerful social and cultural forces that surround them.Mary McRae was born into a staunchly Catholic farming family in Glengarry County, with proud Scottish roots going back hundreds of years. Charles Magee was of Irish stock and he, too, was born into a farming family in North Gower, close to Ottawa. His family was staunchly Protestant. Mary became a nurse, Charles became a doctor, and their paths crossed, leading to their marriage and the birth of their son. During the early years of the 20th century, the Catholic Church was adamant that 'mixed marriages' were illegitimate unless the children were raised with Catholic values and practices. The papal decree, Ne Temere, was proclaimed in 1908, the year that Charles and Mary were married. To make matters worse, Charles proved to be a violent and abusive husband. Mist of Tears tells how Mary escapes back to her home in Glen Nevis, how Charles organises a raiding party in an attempt to recover his baby son, how Mary's uncle, Farquhar McRae, shoots and kills one of the group and is sentenced to life imprisonment. The following year, baby Charlie is kidnapped, and Charles has an affair with a mysterious Hungarian woman. We follow the lives of Charles, Mary, and Charlie through the Great War and beyond, as they take their own paths, seeking the happiness they failed to find together.

A memorial covering eight decades of personal experiences and reflections. Coping with life, its adventures and misadventures. Travels in France, Rwanda, Japan, Qatar and, above all, the world of the mind. A fascination with birds and birding. Academic thoughts about utopian literature. Philosophical meditations and poetic meanderings.

A critical exploration of one of the most exciting, original and influential figures to emerge in contemporary film, Guillermo del Toro: Film as Alchemic Art is a major contribution to the analysis of Guillermo del Toro's cinematic output. It offers an in-depth discussion of del Toro's oeuvre and investigates key ideas, recurrent motifs and subtle links between his movies. The book explores the sources that del Toro draws upon and transforms in the creation of his rich and complex body of work. These include the literary, artistic and cinematic influences on films such as Pan's Labyrinth, The Devil's Backbone, Cronos and Mimic, and the director’s engagement with comic book culture in his two Hellboy films, Blade II and Pacific Rim. As well as offering extensive close textual analysis, the authors also consider del Toro's considerable impact on wider popular culture, including a discussion of his role as producer, ambassador for ‘geek' culture and figurehead in new international cinema.

Gender Inequality in Our Changing World: A Comparative Approach focuses on the contemporary United States but places it in historical and global context. Written for sociology of gender courses, this textbook identifies conditions that encourage greater or lesser gender inequality, explains how gender and gender inequality change over time, and explores how gender intersects with other hierarchies, especially those related to race, social class, and sexual identity. The authors integrate historical and international materials as they help students think both theoretically and empirically about the causes and consequences of gender inequality, both in their own lives and in the lives of others worldwide.

Gender Inequality in Our Changing World: A Comparative Approach focuses on the contemporary United States but places it in historical and global context. Written for sociology of gender courses, this textbook identifies conditions that encourage greater or lesser gender inequality, explains how gender and gender inequality change over time, and explores how gender intersects with other hierarchies, especially those related to race, social class, and sexual identity. The authors integrate historical and international materials as they help students think both theoretically and empirically about the causes and consequences of gender inequality, both in their own lives and in the lives of others worldwide.

A critical exploration of one of the most exciting, original and influential figures to emerge in contemporary film, Guillermo del Toro: Film as Alchemic Art is a major contribution to the analysis of Guillermo del Toro's cinematic output. It offers an in-depth discussion of del Toro's oeuvre and investigates key ideas, recurrent motifs and subtle links between his movies. The book explores the sources that del Toro draws upon and transforms in the creation of his rich and complex body of work. These include the literary, artistic and cinematic influences on films such as Pan's Labyrinth, The Devil's Backbone, Cronos and Mimic, and the director’s engagement with comic book culture in his two Hellboy films, Blade II and Pacific Rim. As well as offering extensive close textual analysis, the authors also consider del Toro's considerable impact on wider popular culture, including a discussion of his role as producer, ambassador for ‘geek' culture and figurehead in new international cinema.