Stephen Edwards

This book argues that the sympathy underpinning mid-nineteenth-century fiction’s ethics and author/reader relationships had a significant afterlife. It was crucial to Walter Besant’s fiction theory and politics as well as to other fin-de-siècle writers’ exploration of women’s philanthropy and the problems of poverty. What we now term 'empathy' was crucial to the very different fiction of Mary Ward and Marie Corelli and the social influence they wished to exert. Ward’s desire to stimulate sensitivity to the battle of political ideas about inequality is here compared to Corelli’s bond of sympathy with common readers which sought to combat a corrupt society and the derision of critics. Science and philosophy’s arguments about what empathy stimulated by reading can achieve is contrasted with new empirical evidence of readers’ reactions, including from the pages of local newspapers. This shows what Ward’s and Corelli’s fiction of debate achieved in raising awareness and influencing thinking.

Possessing powerful communication skills is the single most effective lifehack you can use to skyrocket yourself to massive success in every area of your life. Without proper communication skills, you're going to be ineffective in your personal and business life. If you're tired of not knowing how to form (and keep) connections with new acquaintances, how to defuse tense situations or if want to learn how to get people to buy into your idea and thoughts...then this book is for you "...finally a guide packed with real-world effective advice for the modern person in 2022."Stephen Greene, Author In Effective Modern Communication Skills, renowned authors Stephen Edwards & Susan Brown provide a unique yet easy-to-follow guide to help you navigate the waters of interpersonal communications with confidence, assertiveness and control. Here's what you're going to learn in Effective Modern Communication Skills: * How to make new friends and deep connections with people you just met* How to get rid of communication anxiety* Resolving conflicts effectively and learning to deal with uncomfortable conversations* How to take control of what kind of "message" you're sending out* A crash guide to using and reading body language effectively that will help you form lightning fast connections with other people* How to figure out your communication style and that of others to help you start relationships on the right foot* How to be more assertive and get what you want out of your relationships* The right way to give and receive feedback* How to improve your listening skills and make people feel understood...and much more "A fantastic and highly recommended asset for anyone wanting to know how to communicate in this often confusing modern world"Lisa Fitzsimmons, The Express "...which is why I have no hesitation to recommend this book in both work and personal situations."Chris Peters, The Irish Times The 2022 updated version is available now on Kindle, Paperback, Hardcover and Audible.

Something strange has happened in the village of Smallbeef on the South Downs of southern England. Following a colossal storm, brought on inadvertently by Mother Nature having a bad migraine, a new day has dawned and it appears that the world's water birds are now in charge...

The island of Cyprus is a truly classic area of geology in Europe. Perhaps nowhere else on Earth does so small an area provide such an excellent illustration of the dynamics of Earth processes through abundant exposures of spectacular and diverse geology. The geology, natural resources and climate of Cyprus have enabled civilizations to flourish, and world-renowned archaeological sites date as far back as the Neolithic period. Much of the wealth and development of the island has been based on copper, and evidence of its exploitation dates to at least the third millennium BC. Cyprus is also a hazardous island. Modern and ancient settlements have been destroyed or abandoned as a consequence of earthquakes and landslides. This authoritative work will appeal to all those with an interest in geology who visit this exceptional Mediterranean destination.