Book Description
Imperial Leather chronicles the dangerous liaisons between gender, race and class that shaped British imperialism and its bloody dismantling. Spanning the century between Victorian Britain and the current struggle for power in South Africa, the book takes up the complex relationships between race and sexuality, fetishism and money, gender and violence, domesticity and the imperial market, and the gendering of nationalism within the zones of imperial and anti-imperial power.
Anne McClintock explores the sexualizing of the terra incognita, the imperial myth of the empty lands, the dirt fetish and the "civilizing mission", sexuality and labor, advertising and commodity racism, the Victorian invention of the idle woman, feminism and racial difference, and anti-apartheid culture in the current transformation of national power.
Using feminist, post-colonial, psychoanalytic and socialist theories, Imperial Leather argues that the categories of gender, race and class do not exist inisolation, but emerge in intimate relation to one another. Drawing on diverse cultural forms--novels, advertising, diaries, poetry oral history, and mass commodity spectacle--the book examines imperialism not only as a poetics of ambivalence, but as a politics of violence. Rejecting traditional binaries of self/other, man/woman, colonizer/colonized, Anne McClintock calls instead for a more informed and complex understanding of catgories of social power and identity.
Customer Reviews:
It was fascinating!.......2003-08-20
I don't agree with the reviewer for Library Journal because I found McClintock's book thorough and solid. She situates the book in a very clever way in the myriad of "isms" and scholarly debates on post-colonialism. She argues that one cannot talk about colonialism without at the same time investigate how gender,race, sexuality, class etc, has shaped the colonial discourse and discussion.
I would recommend this book to people interested in feminist, gender, postcolonial studies but also to anyone who wants a more indepth and creative analysis of the current debate on postcolonialism and gender.
Book Description
The story of Tzu Hsi is the story of the last Empress in China. In the novel Nobel Prize winner Pearl S. Buck recreates the life of one of the most intriguing rulers during a time of intense turbulence.
Tzu Hsi was born into one of the lowly ranks of the Imperial dynasty. According to custom, she moved to the Forbidden City at the age of seventeen to become one of hundreds of concubines. But her singular beauty and powers of manipulation quickly moved her into the position of Second Consort.
Tzu Hsi was feared and hated by many in the court, but adored by the people. The Empress's rise to power (even during her husband's life) parallels the story of China's transition from the ancient to the modern way.
Pearl S. Buck's knowledge of and fascination with the Empress's life are contagious. She reveals the essence of this self-involved and infamous last Empress, at the same time she takes the reader through China's struggle for freedom and democracy.
Customer Reviews:
A very interesting novel.......2007-06-08
A novel about a very interesting transitory part of the Chinese history. A fascinating main character, a rich story with a lot of things going on throughout the book. Very absorbing, highly recommended.
One of those novels that remains in your mind forever..........2006-02-19
Powerful prose & imagery from a writer who learned to write, it is said, from the Bible. It reads much like the story of Esther from the old Testament. Pearl Buck's characterizations are built up layer by careful layer with simple words and in spare phrases. This is a lovely book.
Behind Every Great Woman..........2005-05-12
IMPERIAL WOMAN is the fictionalized biography of the great Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi, the real power behind the throne during the reins of the last four emperors of China. The story starts with her as a beautiful Manchu teenager who, along with her cousin Sakota, is picked for the emperor's crop of concubines. Through guile and ambition, Tzu Hsi bears the male heir to the emperor she comes to control. When the emperor dies young, Tzu Hsi makes sure she and Sakota are named regents for the young child emperor.
Through keen intelligence, intrigue, and whatever other means necessary, Tzu Hsi holds the imperial throne through her son's childhood. Buck portrays a woman split between feelings of love for her family and what is the best for the empire, rather than what I gather is the historical feeling - that Tzu Hsi was some sort of evil spider spinning schemes from the center of her web in Forbidden City. Through all the machinations and years she is aided by Jung Lu, her former betrothed and the love of her life.
The Dowager Empress has the ultimate power, but Buck shows she is a servant of the opinions of her court advisors and in reality only rules the eunuchs and court ladies in the Forbidden City. She is a relic of the past in a time of great change and cultural upheaval in China, when it is besieged by western nations and ideas. The infamous Boxer Rebellion is the beginning of the end for Tzu Hsi, and she loses her spirit and resolve after this defeat and the death of her beloved Jung Lu.
Equal to "The Good Earth" --a dramatic saga.......2003-12-30
The story of Tzu Hsi, last Empress of the Manchu empire of China, is dramatic and reads like a novel. Pearl Buck, who grew up in China and was there as a child while the Empress was alive, draws from the attitudes of the country people towards their almost mythical ruler "Old Buddha." While Buck takes liberties with some of the history, the story is essentially correct while giving an imperial-eye-view of how the times must have seemed to the woman who ruled for decades in turbulent times. The language is exquisite, the story is exciting. One of Buck's best novels and an enjoyable read for anyone who loves historical novels.
Ruthless Ambition.......2003-12-02
All about Tzu-Hsi, last empress of China, who reigned from the 1860's until her death in 1908. She reigned during a period of great transition in China, as the book goes on there is increasing pressure from outside - the nations of England, France, Russia, United States and others demand from China increased trade and the rights to allow their citizens to live in China and their priests & missionaries to travel wherever they please. Japan too is an ever present threat. The empress was unable to adapt to modern times, and rather than building modern ships and arms that would have enabled China to defend itself, all the taxes collected were spent on luxuries and palaces for her, only at the very end of her days after defeat did she accept the idea that China could not keep itself isolated from all the other peoples of the world and finally opened to the idea of sending Chinese abroad to study foreign ways.
The story begins with the teenager Yehonala, betrothed to Jung-Lu, she and her cousin Sakota are chosen to be royal concubines of the Emperor, a sickly and weak man who so far has been unable to produce an heir. Through sheer guile and ambition, Yehonala becomes the favorite, and produces a son for the Emperor (or is it his son?). When the emperor dies, she becomes Empress mother, regent for her still young son, and upon his death she seizes the throne and becomes Empress in her own right, first sharing the throne with her cousin Sakota, then finally alone. As Empress of China, Tzu-Hsi has absolute power and can raise people up or down, have them beheaded or bestow mercy according to her whim, but she is unloved and deeply lonely as the extremely powerful often are.
This is a great novel, there is never a dull moment or wasted word and I found it hard to put down, this is a fascinating look at Chinese history and Tzu-Hsi herself is unforgettable. Selfish and sometimes foolish as she is, the reader is compelled to like her. I remember first reading about Tzu-Hsi in a novel called the Forbidden City by Muriel Jernigan and I never forgot her, it was a real treat to discover this book, a really great work of historical fiction.
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Imperial Woman
Pearl S. Buck
Manufacturer: Pocket Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GZUK18 |
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Imperial Woman.
Pearl S. Buck
Manufacturer: John Day Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
ASIN: B000L1NJ0Q |
Average customer rating:
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Imperial Woman
Pearl S. Buck
Manufacturer: New York: John Day Company,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVC3WI |
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Imperial Woman
Pearl S Buck
Manufacturer: JOHN DAY CO INC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UZMAP8 |
Average customer rating:
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Imperial Woman
Pearl S Buck
Manufacturer: The John Day Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NPROK6 |
Customer Reviews:
I LOVE this book!.......2007-10-08
I fell in love with Sweet Release and it now holds a spot as one of my very favorite books. First off, the cover art is fantastic. It fits the story and is exaclty how I picture Alec in my mind.
The story itself is heart warming, heart breaking and sincere. There are very few stories that can touch me enough to bring a tear to my eye, but this one got me right in the heart.
I highly recommend this book as well as other titles by Pamela Clare.
Pamela Claire is a new star in the genre!.......2006-09-03
For years, I have waded through the same old dull Regency England drabble and tried to find something that was really innovative and fresh. I picked this book up purely by accident and wow, am I ever glad I discovered this author! I'm now working my way through all of her books and finding that romantic fiction has a bright, new star like we've not seen in a while.
This first book by Claire is just a fabulous, believable journey through a period of American History so few have dared write about. But like some of the genre's greats (Sandra Brown comes to mind), it is the magnificent characters that steal the show. By the time you finish Sweet Release, you actually believe you have witnessed a short period in the life of the delightful Cassie and the sinfully delicious Alec. I found myself rooting for them out loud at various points. Anytime you 'talk' to a book, you know it's wonderful! The imagery, setting and storyline are all so well thought through as well. Trust me-order this novel and then get yourself a big, tall glass of iced tea, grab a fan, head for the back porch and find yourself on an early 1700s era Virginia plantation with a deliciously sexy couple. You'll never have a better time with a book.
Book #1 in a 5- Star Series! Unique story, with plenty of romance........2006-07-24
This is the first book in a series of 3. All 3 books have received very high ratings from Amazon readers. Here is the series:
Sweet Release- The story of Alec and Cassie
Carnal Gift- The story of Cassie's brother, Jamie, and Brighid
Ride the Fire- The story of Nicholas, son of Alec and Cassie/ nephew and best friend to Jamie, and Elspeth
Read them in order. The characters remain significant from one story to the next.
Sweet Release:
Alec Kenleigh is a wealthy and prominent shipbuilder for the English navy. As the heir to the Kenleigh business and fortune, he commands the family finances. When his younger brother, Philip, becomes out of a control- drinking and womanizing- Alec threatens to cut his brother off. Soon after, Alec's coach is attacked. Alec is beaten unconscious.
Cassie Blackwell has an unusual life for a woman. Her father has left her in charge of the family's Virginia plantation. Although she doesn't love the idea of slavery, she has no choice but to purchase slaves in order to keep the plantation running. When the slave trader arrives, she purchases two men: a large and powerful black slave, and a very sick white convict named Cole Braden. She purchases the white man only out of compassion. He likely will die.
When the Cole becomes well enough to awake, Cassie is surprised by his well- educated manner of speaking. However, when the convicted "ravisher of women" claims to be a wealthy shipbuilder from England, she is sure he is lying. She offers to give Cole a chance to write to relatives who can identify him, if he will promise to work hard and not try to escape while they await his proof of innocence. To her surprise, he keeps his end of he bargain.
Over the following months, Cole proves himself to be harmless. He spends time teaching and playing with Cassie's little brother, Jamie. He also shows himself to be an excellent trainer and breeder of horses. Cassie assigns him the position of groomer, along with the usual duties of a field hand. Although he exercises the horses by taking them on long rides each day, he never tries to use the riding hours as a means to escape. Cassie is beginning to believe that Cole's story may be true. Jamie is relishing Cole's attention and the stories he tells of pirates. Cole, Cassie and Jamie are becoming very attached to one another.
Cassie's neighbor, Geoffrey, has been infatuated with her since childhood. The spoiled heir to his father's estate, he has decided she will marry him. If she does not love the idea, she will learn to. Geoffrey despises the way Cassie and her convict look at one another. He will get rid of the convict by either framing him for rape, or by outright murder.
Alec has one person whom he can rely upon to identify him. His brother- in- law, Matthew, is his only hope. Weeks have passed since he sent Matthew a letter asking him to come and prove Alec's identity. Alec doesn't realize that his brother, Philip, has intercepted and burned the letter. Geoffrey's family has caused Alec to go to trial on charges that will cause him to hang. Time is running out. Cassie is desperate to free him. Alec uses his last precious days to rewrite his will, making sure that once Matthew sees that the will was written by Alec's own hand, Cassie and her family will want for nothing.
This was an excellent story. Full of fun humor, exciting drama, steamy love scenes, and true bonding. The hero was compassionate to everyone around him, giving comfort and attention to others even when his own circumstances were hard. (Pay special attention to how he helps a slave woman give birth. You will see a connection with how his son helps a woman in the third book of the series, "Ride the Fire.")
Absolutely riveting!.......2006-02-27
Imagine Alec Kenleigh's shock when after he is brutally attacked in a London street, and wakes to find months have passed, he is now in Virginia, everyone thinks he is a convict; and that his name is Cole Braden!
Tough sweet Cassie Blakewell is under just a little pressure; her father has gone off and left her in charge of running their Virginia plantation. She takes pity on the barely alive man the slave trader had to offer, even though advised not to get involved with a convicted ravisher and defiler of women.
She nurses the poor beaten and sick man back to health, to have him claim to be an abducted rich Englishman, who has no idea how he got where he is; or why.
It doesn't take long for the sparks to begin flying between the two, but Alec is determined to prove who he really is so he can claim this fiery beauty for his own.
This book is AWESOME! It has everything,
Deep dark family secrets, smoldering tension, horrible blinding betrayals, secondary characters that will pull your heartstrings, and a love in the making that will bring tears to your eyes!
Do not miss this story!
You have got to be kidding.......2005-08-10
I purchased this book on the advice of all the reviews on Amazon--was I dissapointed! This was so full of PURPLE PROSE I didn't want to finish. It was predictable and so sappy it was hard to take. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
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Sweet Release: The Last Step to Black Freedom
James Davidson Jr.
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Consciousness & Thought | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
African-American Studies | Special Groups | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Social Psychology & Interactions | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1591025583 |
Book Description
African Americans have come a long way in the difficult upward struggle from slavery to the relatively broad freedoms enjoyed today. Together, as a potent and well-knit group, they have battled endlessly in their march toward freedom. Finally, according to psychologist James Davison Jr., the last step to freedom for black Americans has arrived. But, that last step must be taken as individuals - not as a collective. In this assessment of the problems and potentials facing African Americans, Dr. Davison argues that in order for achieving individuals to advance to the final step of freedom, they must break free from the mental shackles created by the black community.
The central theme of Sweet Release is that the forces that impinge most upon psychological freedom for black Americans come from within. Guilt for being successful, shame in reaction to the misbehaviors of race peers, demands to give back to the community, and accusations of trying to be white are just a few of the mechanisms that thwart psychological freedom for black persons. Dr. Davison argues that individual lifestyles, aspirations, even identities are constrained by the specter of racial unity. As a result, for black advancers, what remains to be overcome is not "the system" or "them," but internalized community attitudes that put a choke hold on individual freedom. Unafraid of controversy or candid assessment, Dr. Davison addresses these and other thorny issues with psychological insight while offering strategies to move beyond group constrictions toward personal freedom.
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Sweet's CD, Release 3.0
Sweet's Group
Manufacturer: Mcgraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM
Reference | Subjects | Books | Almanacs & Yearbooks | Atlases & Maps | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Business Skills | Careers | Catalogs & Directories | Consumer Guides | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Education | Encyclopedias | Etiquette | Foreign Languages | Fun Facts | Genealogy | General | Job Hunting | Large Print | Law | Publishing & Books | Quotations | Spanish-Language Reference | Study Guides | Test Prep Central | Words & Language | Writing
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General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Professional Reference | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Electronic Tools | Architectural Engineering | McGraw-Hill Engineering Store | McGraw-Hill | By Publisher | Books
Sweet's Directories | Architectural Engineering | McGraw-Hill Engineering Store | McGraw-Hill | By Publisher | Books
ASIN: 0071358404 |
Book Description
Sweets: Rated the Best Overall Building Products Source
A miracle-worker ... this dream tool gives you Sweet's product listings plus 12,000 CAD details to enhance your drawings.
The ultimate project-simplifying, money-saving tool, this 3-CD set combines information from Sweets product CD with 12,000 CAD details for insertion in your drawings. You get high-powered access to a library of manufacturer-specific details, including dimensions, materials, and other key data, ready to use in your drawings. There's simply no easier, faster, or better tool for creating and enhancing working, design, and construction renderings.
Sweet's CD features:
Proprietary CAD details in all CSI divisions
Compatibility with AutoCAD 14, 2000, LT97, and LT98, and any system using .DWG or .DXF formats
Fully searchable capabilities by CSI division, manufacturer, product, and keyword
All the products you need, right at your fingertips for specification ease--with CAD details for instant drawing insertion.
Books:
- Just As I Am: A Novel
- Kafka on the Shore
- Keeping Faith: A Novel (P.S.)
- Kiss of the Spider Woman
- Krondor: Tear of the Gods (Riftwar Legacy, Book 3)
- Laguna Heat
- Lord Foulgrin's Letters
- Love Medicine: A Novel (P.S.)
- Lunar Park
- Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- Without Cloak or Dagger : The truth about the new espionage--
- Rebuilding Central Park: A Management and Restoration Plan
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- What's Heaven
- Walking Taylor Home
- Abstracting Craft: The Practiced Digital Hand
- Talkin' About Poker: Straight Talk for Parents and their Players
- The ferns of Nagaland
Carnal Knowledge and Imperial Power: Race and the Intimate in Colonial Rule
Race and the Education of Desire: Foucault's History of Sexuality and the Colonial Order of Things
The Location of Culture (Routledge Classics)
Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity
Culture and Imperialism
