Bøker av Andrew Norman

A collection of poems reflecting Thomas Hardy's tumultuous marriage to Emma Gifford.In many of his poems, the great Dorset poet and novelist Thomas Hardy referred to a certain romantic courtship, a marriage which became progressively more problematical, and finally to a bereavement in which a man loses his wife. So, who was Hardy writing about? The clue is to be found in his early poems, where the names of several locations in North Cornwall are mentioned, this being the very same place which featured in Hardy's courtship of Emma Gifford, who was to become his first wife.The poems raise certain questions. Given that Hardy and Emma gradually drifted apart so that in the end they lived mainly separate lives, albeit under the same roof, why was he so grief-stricken when she died, bearing in mind that their marriage was so unsatisfactory?How did Hardy cope as he passed through the various stages of grief, which he articulated so poignantly and expressively in his poems? These stages are recognized today, thanks to the work of Swiss-US psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, and US expert on grieving and loss, David Kessler.Finally, how did Hardy survive and come out the other side, and can his experience be a guide to others who find themselves alone and bereft after losing their partner?

The dinosaurs are a source of endless fascination, and each new generation is inspired and enchanted by images of these wondrous and awe-inspiring creatures that dominated the Earth eons of time ago. The smallest was the size of a chicken; the largest on record, the titanosaur _Argentinosaurus huinculensis_, weighed about 95 tonsâEUR"fifteen times as much as an African bull elephant (todayâEUR(TM)s largest terrestrial creature). Dinosaurs ruled the Earth for no less than 181 million years: about 600 times longer than _Homo sapiens_ have existed on the planet (_Homo sapiens_ is defined as the primate species to which modern humans belong: the first modern humans having evolved in Africa about 300,000 years ago). Today, the consensus is that the dinosaurs became extinct when a meteorite impacted with the Earth 66 million years ago, covering it with a thick layer of soot and throwing up enormous quantities of dust which caused the sky to darken, and photosynthesis on which all terrestrial animals ultimately depend for their survival to cease. The unanswered question, however, is how did mammals, reptiles, and birds (which are the only species of dinosaur to survive) escape this holocaust?An entirely new theory is put forward for the first time to explain this mysterious and intriguing phenomenon.

It was a tradition with the Hardy family, late on Christmas Eve, for the local singers and musicians gather together at the family home at Higher Bockhampton for a glass of cider and a warming by the log fire. Meanwhile, they prepared their music scores and candles, prior to setting out on foot to entertain the locals by serenading them with Christmas carols at their front doors. The musicians included Hardy's father Thomas (violin), and his grandfather Thomas (cello). Hardy recreated this scene in his novel Under the Greenwood Tree (published in 1872), where 'Hardy' became 'Dewy', the cottage 'Lewgate', and the choir, the 'Mellstock Quire'. Although Hardy had difficulty in embracing the Christian faith, he adored it's joyous traditions, reliving them vicariously in Under the Greenwood Tree, and so may we!

The story of the creators of Winnie the Pooh.

In this fascinating study of the life of the creator of one of the greatest detectives of all time, Dr Andrew Norman traces the origin of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's strange beliefs.

In the early 1960s a new 'Star' appeared on the pop music scene and burned brightly in the firmament. This was the enchantingly beautiful, French singer-songwriter ('chanteuse'), Francoise Madeleine Hardy. Today, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, Francoise can be resurrected, at any moment of her singing career, simply with a flick of a switch on the television's remote control. And there she is, the epitome of French elegance and style! With Francoise, unlike with many of the popular musicians of the time, there was no blaring music or wild gesticulations. She had no need of devices such as these. Her songs are captivating in their own right, particularly those which tell of love, loneliness, and loss. In fact, she has been described as 'the patron saint of the dispossessed and heartbroken'. By why this focus on personal sadness? Could it be that this French icon, beloved by millions throughout the world and who apparently had the world at her feet, was permanently troubled? And if there was something troubling Francoise, could it be love, or to be more precise, unrequited love?

The great singer, Paul Robeson was born in Princeton, New Jersey, USA on 9 April 1898. His father, William was a Presbyterian minister and a former slave; his mother, Maria was also descended from slaves. This biography about his life delves deep into his family history and his own achievements.

Written by a medical doctor, this book sheds light on the mind of one of the most reviled figures of the twentieth century, Adolf Hitler, who, today, would have been treated for schizophrenia.

From Bushmen to the Bantu; the invasion by the Matabele; the advent of missionaries; and the arrival of Cecil Rhodes, up to the time of independence. This is the romantic land of the high veld; of the great river Zambezi and the mighty Victoria Falls, and vast mineral wealth. This was the country that Mugabe referred to as `the jewel of Africa'.

The aim of the author is to discover what light Hitler's associates were able to shed on the personality and modus operandi of the Fuhrer, and to determine the extent to which they (and indeed, Hitler himself) realized that their leader was insane.

Marilyn Monroe fascinated and captivated the hearts of millions with her innocence, charm, generosity and kindness, yet, died tragically at 36. With his medical knowledge the author sheds new light on her enigmatic character, this fascinating, yet deeply troubled, former Hollywood icon who is regarded as one of the world's most famous movie stars.

The story of Blind Veterans UK, an organization that was founded 100 years ago by Sir Arthur Pearson, who was himself blind, during the First World War, in order to bring hope and practical help to Allied servicemen blinded in their country's service. It also tells how light from the torch which Pearson lit has spread to all corners of the earth.

Agatha Christie's disappearance in December 1926 as seen in a new light: a real life mystery as gripping as any of her novels