This well-illustrated and innovative book analyses convent culture in sixteenth-century Italy through the medium of three unpublished nuns' chronicles. It uses a comparative methodology of 'connected differences' to examine the intellectual and imaginative achievement of these nuns, and to investigate how they fashioned and preserved individual and convent identities by writing chronicles. The chronicles themselves reveal many examples of nuns' agency, especially with regard to cultural creativity, and show that convent traditions determined cultural priorities and specialisms, and dictated the contours of convent ceremonial life.

Christian popular culture has tremendous influence on many American churchgoers. When we have a choice between studying the Bible and reading novels, downloading movies, or watching television, we become less familiar with Numbers than with Narnia. This book examines popular Christian narratives with rigorous scholarly methods and assumes that they are just as complex, fascinating, and worthy of investigation as the latest secular Netflix series or dystopian novel. While most scholars focus on the religious aspects of Christian texts, this study takes a new approach by analyzing their social responsibility in portraying the complex dynamics of race, class, and gender in a profoundly unequal America. Close readings of six case studies--The Chronicles of Narnia, Francine Rivers's Redeeming Love, Jan Karon's Mitford novels, Left Behind, the films of the Sherwood Baptist Church, and Duck Dynasty--uncover both harmful stereotypes and Christians serving as leaders in social justice.

Unveiling the Cultural Importance of Ancient Scripts Calligraphy Chronicles is an immersive journey into the world of ancient scripts and the profound cultural significance they hold. This comprehensive volume explores the origins, evolution, and diverse expressions of calligraphy across different cultures and time periods. From the intricate cuneiform of Mesopotamia to the elegant hieroglyphs of Egypt, the masterful brushstrokes of China to the ornate Arabic scripts, Calligraphy Chronicles reveals the stories behind each civilization's written legacy. It examines the role of calligraphers as artists, scribes, and communicators, and delves into the technical advancements and cultural influences that have shaped the art of writing. This captivating book offers a detailed examination of the history, styles, and cultural significance of calligraphy, with special attention to its impact on religion, education, and contemporary society. It features stunning reproductions of historical manuscripts, showcases the work of renowned calligraphers, and analyzes the influence of calligraphy on other art forms such as painting and sculpture. Whether you are a history enthusiast, an art lover, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of written language, Calligraphy Chronicles is an essential addition to your library. This comprehensive and captivating work is a testament to the enduring power and cultural legacy of ancient scripts, showcasing the intricate connection between writing, art, and civilization.

An anthropologist returns to his hometown in Iowa to study relations between the white and the Mesquakis people. In the process, he unravels a fascinating narrative about the characters of his childhood and who they have become, their relations with one another, and his own relationship with his profession. Paper edition (unseen), $14.95. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This volume reexamines and reconstructs the relationship between the Deuteronomistic History and the book of Chronicles, building on recent developments such as the Persian -period dating of the Deuteronomistic History, the contribution of oral traditional studies to understanding the production of biblical texts, and the reassessment of Standard Biblical Hebrew and Late Biblical Hebrew. These new perspectives challenge widely held understandings of the relationship between the two scribal works and strongly suggest that they were competing historiographies during the Persian period that nevertheless descended from a common source. This new reconstruction leads to new readings of the literature.

At a time when the world is facing the depletion of nonrenewable natural resources, consumer society is increasingly being called into question. Nowhere is this more evident than in France, where the consumer revolution has long been perceived as a challenge to artisanal crafts, local business, and other key elements of French culture. David H. Walker here charts the portrayal of consumer behavior in the works of Gide, Zola, Jean Valmy-Basse, and Elsa Triolet and analyzes these testimonies in relation to their social, cultural and historical milieu. Consumer Chronicles offers an imaginative look at the impact of affluence on French consumers, shopkeepers, and society and provides valuable insight into the history of the consumer mentality in the twentieth century.