Δοκίμιο & Πολιτισμός

Με μεγάλη χαρά ανακοινώνουμε την κυκλοφορία μιας νέας σειράς αγγλικών βιβλίων για μικρούς και μεγάλους που εισάγουν τους αναγνώστες στον κόσμο και στον πολιτισμό της αρχαίας Ελλάδας μέσα από τις εμβληματικές ηρωίδες της μυθολογίας. Είτε πρόκειται για διασκευές κλασικών τραγωδιών του Ευριπίδη, του Αισχύλου και του Σοφοκλή είτε για πρωτότυπα έργα βασισμένα σε γνωστές πηγές, τα βιβλία αυτά έχουν στόχο να παρασύρουν τους αναγνώστες σε ένα ταξίδι γεμάτο περιπέτεια, δράμα, θάνατο και έρωτα, ενώ παράλληλα εστιάζουν στις γυναίκες που έπαιξαν τόσο σημαντικό ρόλο στην ιστορία μας -και συχνά εξακολουθούν να μνημονεύονται ως απλοί θεατές. Η σειρά ξεκινά με έξι βιβλία: Μήδεια, Κίρκη, Ηλέκτρα, Ελένη, Αριάδνη και Αντιγόνη. Τα τρία πρώτα εκδίδονται τον Μάρτιο του 2024, ενώ τα επόμενα τρία το καλοκαίρι. Κάθε βιβλίο μπορεί να διαβαστεί ξεχωριστά και μπορείτε να αρχίσετε την ανάγνωση με οποιαδήποτε σειρά, όμως υπάρχει ένα βασικό νήμα που εντέλει συνδέει όλους αυτούς τους χαρακτήρες και παρέχει μια ευρύτερη άποψη για το τι ήταν να είσαι γυναίκα στον αρχαίο ελληνικό κόσμο. Τα ιδιαίτερα εξώφυλλα της σειράς έχει φιλοτεχνήσει η ταλαντούχα εικονογράφος Little Miss Grumpy. Γέννημα-θρέμμα Αθηναία, είχε όνειρο να γίνει ηθοποιός, αλλά τελικά έγινε μια από τις πιο πολλά υποσχόμενες εικονογράφους της γενιάς της. Σχεδιάζει, σκιτσάρει και ζωγραφίζει για βιβλία και εφημερίδες και δημιουργεί αντικείμενα με… προσωπικότητα.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius is the remarkable private journal of a Stoic philosopher who was also the most powerful man of his time. A Roman emperor from 161 to 180 A.D., Marcus Aurelius was trained in Stoic philosophy since his young age. As an emperor, he continued to practice daily spiritual exercises, meant to remind him to stay humble, patient, and resilient towards the hardships of his position. He kept his thoughts in his journal, as advice to himself on how to best fulfill the responsibilities of his position, but also his responsibilities as a human being. Meditations were not written to be published – yet today they are one of the most influential works of Stoicism. They offer guidance for anyone seeking resilience of the mind and constant self-improvement. An accessible read, Meditations will become a favorite book you will turn to regularly for inspiration.

At the time of his death Eric Hobsbawm was the most famous historian in the world. He not only wrote history was also witness to it, from the Communist uprising in Europe to revolution in Cuba where he was Che Guevara's interpreter. He was instrumental in the birth of New Labour and was also a jazz journalist for The New Statesman. This is the story of his family life. Marlene Hobsbawm grew up in a comfortable middle class Jewish home in Vienna but that life was shattered by the rise of Nazism. Age five she fled the country with her family and settled in the UK. A talented linguist, Marlene worked post-war for the UN in Italy helping to rebuild the country and then onto war torn Congo. Returning to the UK she met Eric Hobsbawm. This is the story of their roller coaster life together, much of it spent under the scrutiny of M15.

Metapolitics argues that one of the main tasks of contemporary thought is to abolish the idea that politics is merely an object for philosophical reflection. Badiou indicts this approach, which reduces politics to a matter of opinion, thus eliminating any of its truly radical and emancipatory possibilities. Against this intellectual tradition, Badiou proposes instead the consideration of politics in terms of the production of truth and the affirmation of equality. He demands that the question of a possible political truth be separated from any notion of consensus or public opinion, and that political action be rethought in terms of the complex process that binds discussion to decision. Starting from this analysis, Badiou critically examines the thought of anthropologist and political theorist Sylvain Lazarus, Jacques Ranciere's writings on workers' history and democratic dissensus, the role of the subject in Althusser, as well as the concept of democracy and the link between truth and justice.

1920s Cairo: singers were pressing hit records, dramatic troupes were springing up and cabarets were packed - a counterculture was on the rise. In bars, hash-dens and music halls, people of all backgrounds came together as a passionate group of artists captivated Egyptian society. Of these performers, Cairo's biggest stars were female, and they asserted themselves on the stage like never before. Two of the most famous troupes were run by women; Badia Masabni's dancehall became the hottest nightspot in town; pioneer of Egyptian cinema Aziza Amir made her stage debut; and legendary singer Oum Kalthoum first rose to fame. It is these women, who knew both the opportunities and prejudices that this world offered, who best reveal this cosmopolitan and raucous city's secrets. Midnight in Cairo tells the thrilling story of Egypt's interwar nightlife and entertainment industry through the lives of its pioneering women. Introducing an eccentric cast of characters, it brings to life a world of revolutionary ideas and provocative art - one which laid the foundations of Arab popular culture today. It is a story of modern Cairo as we have never heard it before.

"Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are. Voltaire's short, radical and iconoclastic essays on philosophical ideas from angels to idolatry, miracles to wickedness, make wry observations about human beliefs, and mock hypocrisy and extravagant piety - his call to his fellow men to act with reason and see through the lies they are fed by their leaders has provided inspiration to freethinkers everywhere."

Through this guide, readers visitors can get accustomed with the particularities and features of Pelion its natural beauty, its legends an its age-long history, the life of both contemporary and old time residents, the mores, and traditions of its rich culture. Particular reference is made to the municipalities and communities of Pelion and information is given about the tourist infrastructure of each area. To give an overview of this area, a wide range of photographs and maps vividly reflecting the features of Pelion is also provided. O οδηγός «Πήλιον Όρος» μεταφρασμένος στα αγγλικά.

'Sultry fun in the sun!' Heidi Swain. 'Clever, romantic and unputdownable' Julie Houston. 'Leave a piece of your heart in Greece with this beautifully told story' Sandy Barker. Two weeks. One unforgettable trip to Corfu. A chance to change her life. Becky Rose has just landed her dream job house-sitting at a top-end villa on the island of Corfu. What could be better than two weeks laying by an infinity pool overlooking the gorgeous Ionian waters while mending her broken heart. Elias Mardas is travelling back to Corfu on business whilst dealing with his own personal demons. Late arriving in Athens, Becky and Elias have to spend a night in the Greek capital. When they have to emergency land in Kefalonia, Becky's got to decide whether to suck up the adventure and this gorgeous companion she seems to have been thrown together with or panic about when she's going to arrive at Corfu... Finally reaching the beautiful island, Becky is happy to put Elias behind her and get on with her adventure. Until he turns up at the villa...