Initially, 'The Crown or The Clown' was written to inspire single females yearning for a husband. Unknowingly, my egoistically arranged path to their desire was for them to wait on that god-ordained relationship that was intended specifically for them. However, in writing 'The Crown or The Clown', I was reminded of my personal journeys, my hills and valleys, my unsuccessful paths, and subsequent consequences while I was seeking what I perceived as that "perfect" attainable relationship. I was humbled, contrite and yielded to the direction of the Holy Spirit as I moved forward in writing 'The Crown or The Clown'. You see, I then understood and accepted God's Will...God's Way. My prayer is that as the reader goes through each page, absorbs each experience of my journeys, and faithfully participates in each activity from the beginning to the end, they will attain a soul-rendering illumination of the gospel. My hope is for each reader to have their own individual experiences of 1). A sincere release and self-forgiveness from the bondages of the past, 2). A complete wholeness of who they truly are and who they belong to spiritually, and 3). The authentic acceptance that the desires of their heart comes when they have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Only then can they be open and obedient to the biblically based desires for a purposed, destined and ordained relationship intended for them through Jesus Christ.

Shalimar the Clown is a masterpiece from one of our greatest writers, a dazzling novel that brings together the fiercest passions of the heart and the gravest conflicts of our time into an astonishingly powerful, all-encompassing story. Max Ophuls’ memorable life ends violently in Los Angeles in 1993 when he is murdered by his Muslim driver Noman Sher Noman, also known as Shalimar the Clown. At first the crime seems to be politically motivated—Ophuls was previously ambassador to India, and later US counterterrorism chief—but it is much more. Ophuls is a giant, an architect of the modern world: a Resistance hero and best-selling author, brilliant economist and clandestine US intelligence official. But it is as Ambassador to India that the seeds of his demise are planted, thanks to another of his great roles—irresistible lover. Visiting the Kashmiri village of Pachigam, Ophuls lures an impossibly beautiful dancer, the ambitious (and willing) Boonyi Kaul, away from her husband, and installs her as his mistress in Delhi. But their affair cannot be kept secret, and when Boonyi returns home, disgraced and obese, it seems that all she has waiting for her is the inevitable revenge of her husband: Noman Sher Noman, Shalimar the Clown. He was an acrobat and tightrope walker in their village’s traditional theatrical troupe; but soon Shalimar is trained as a militant in Kashmir’s increasingly brutal insurrection, and eventually becomes a terrorist with a global remit and a deeply personal mission of vengeance. In this stunningly rich book everything is connected, and everyone is a part of everyone else. A powerful love story, intensely political and historically informed, Shalimar the Clown is also profoundly human, an involving story of people’s lives, desires and crises, as well as—in typical Rushdie fashion—a magical tale where the dead speak and the future can be foreseen.

“Christopher Bayes is a master, an extraordinary visionary who has done more to liberate young American actors over the last two generations than I can possibly express. His classes in Clowning are philosophical manifestos; the power of his laughter inextricable from the depth of his spirit. This book is a treasure. Nothing can replace the experience of being in the room with a master teacher, but this practical, playful, brilliant book is the next best thing. Read it. It is indispensable.” —Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director, The Public Theater Discovering the Clown, or The Funny Book of Good Acting is a unique glimpse into the wild world of the Clown, unveiling “the playful self, the unsocialized self, the naive self…the big stupid who just wants to have some fun with the audience.” An essential guide for artists and actors wanting to set free the messy and hilarious Clown within.

THE REAL SHAKESPEARE This book proves that Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, wrote the plays we know as ?Shakespearean.' In the play ?Hamlet, ? in a very special coded way, he signed his name ?Ver? hundreds of times. These clues in ?Hamlet? provide the stamp of his authorship! All of the Shakespearean plays and sonnets reflect incidents in the life of Edward de Vere. The real events in his life involved violence, intrigue and love'and some of them were shocking! In a web of conjecture those incidents have been tied together in a novel about de Vere. This novel is one of the main parts of this book. The other two parts are the proof!

Robert Dodsley's 'A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 07' is a meticulously compiled anthology of early English drama, showcasing the rich literary heritage of the period. Dodsley's careful selection includes plays from various genres, providing readers with a comprehensive overview of the theatrical landscape of the time. The language and themes of the plays reflect the historical context in which they were written, making this volume a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts of English literature. Dodsley's editorial style is both scholarly and accessible, offering insightful annotations to help readers navigate the complexities of the texts. The inclusion of lesser-known plays alongside more popular works adds depth and diversity to this collection, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the evolution of English drama. Robert Dodsley's commitment to preserving and celebrating these old English plays highlights his passion for the literary heritage of his country. His dedication to curating this anthology showcases his expertise and deep understanding of early English drama. Readers seeking to explore the rich history of English theater will find 'A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 07' a rewarding and enlightening read, thanks to Dodsley's meticulous editorial work and insightful commentary.

The book summarises research findings from a range of projects using a set of auditory and speech procedures designed for the psycholinguistic framework developed by Stackhouse and Wells (1997). These procedures have been used with children and adolescents with a range of difficulties associated with cleft lip and palate, dysarthria, dyspraxia, phonological impairment, Down syndrome, dyslexia, stammering, autism, semantic-pragmatic difficulties, general learning difficulties, and disadvantaged backgrounds. The procedures have also been used with normally developing children in the age range of 3-7 years. As a result, the book includes descriptions of typical performance on the procedures so that atypical can be identified more easily. In addition, as the materials were used in a longitudinal study of children’s speech and literacy development between the age of 4 and 7 years we can highlight which procedures will help in identifying children a) who are likely to persist with their speech difficulties and b) have associated literacy difficulties.