Virtualities

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James Badal, [interviewer

In this collection of interviews with major orchestra conductors, James Badal explores the impact of recording technology on contemporary musical culture. Spanning more than a decade with masters such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Christoph von Dohnanyi, and Christopher Hogwood, these discussions offer valuable commentary on the digital revolution and subsequent compact disc explosion. One issue addressed in Recording the Classics is how recordings have significantly raised the general public's level of musical knowledge. Classical music discs provide both entertainment and education - the traditional, ideal vehicles for increasing the appreciation of great music among those who lack access to recital halls and opera houses. However, listening to music in private affords an essentially different experience than that of attending a live concert; both the public and the musicians are absent from the home listening environment.

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Sheelagh Kelly

Marty Lanegan is working as a boot boy in York's splendid Station Hotel, when he catches sight of the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. Herietta Ibbetson is the daughter of a prominent landowner, who's far from pleased with his rebellious daughter. When she announces her love for a mere servant, he throws her out. Marty's family is one too delighted with his choice - Etta can't cook, sew, clean or make herself useful in any way. However, Marty is ambitious, Etta is content and they are wildly in love. But is that enough to sustain them as they raise a family of their own.

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Daiwei Kaotelaite zhu

Offering a social and biological account of why psychoactive goods proved so seductive, David Courtwright tracks the intersecting paths by which popular drugs entered the stream of global commerce. He shows how the efforts of merchants and colonial planters expanded world supply, drove down prices, and drew millions of less affluent purchasers into the market, effectively democratizing drug consumption.

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Winston Mano

"In today's Africa racism and ethnicity have been implicated in serious conflicts - from Egypt to Mali to South Africa - that have cost lives and undermined efforts to achieve national cohesion and meaningful development. Racism, Ethnicity and the Media in Africa sets about rethinking the role of media and communication in perpetuating, reinforcing and reining in racism, absolute ethnicity and other discriminations across Africa. It goes beyond the customary discussion of media racism and ethnic stereotyping to critically address broader issues of identity, belonging and exclusion. Topics covered include racism in South African newspapers, pluralist media debates in Kenya, media discourses on same-sex relations in Uganda and ethnicised news coverage in Nigerian newspapers."--Bloomsbury Publishing.