An innovative volume of fifteen interdisciplinary essays at the nexus of material culture, performance studies, and game theory, Playthings in Early Modernity emphasizes the rules of the game(s) as well as the breaking of those rules. Thus, the titular "plaything" is understood as both an object and a person, and play, in the early modern world, is treated not merely as a pastime, a leisurely pursuit, but as a pivotal part of daily life, a strategic psychosocial endeavor.

A Playful Path, the new book by games guru and fun theorist Bernard De Koven, serves as a collection of ideas and tools to help us bring our playfulness back into the open. When we find ourselves forgetting the life of the game or the game of life, the joy of form or the content, the play of brain or mind, body or spirit, this book can help us return to that which our soul is heir.

Do you dare open the door and enter a place like no other? In these three historical tales of sensual awakening, nothing that stimulates and titillates is taboo, ecstasy comes in many sizes, and pleasure is its own reward . . . a world of seduction and sensation, where inhibitions are unlaced and desires long corseted are gloriously freed. . . . Fallen Angel Jess Michaels London's greatest beauty and most notorious madam employs the services of a disgraced Bow Street Runner to keep her safe from a stalker . . . and satisfied after dark. Parlor Games Leda Swann An innocent virgin enters a brothel to escape starvation and receives expert tutelage in the steamy Victorian parlor games that rakish gentlemen indulge in. . . . Border Lord Julia Templeton Fleeing an unfaithful fiancé, a nubile young lovely finds herself the prisoner of a lustful Scottish laird and must bow to his every erotic whim. . . .

In this entertaining picture book by award-winning author Valerie Wyatt, ?strange things happen if you change just one letter in a word.? For example, a toy could become a boy (easy, just change the t to a b). Or, a house might become a mouse and then a moose (change the h to m and then the u to o). Lewis Carroll first created this game of turning one word into another by changing only one letter at a time. Most often called word ladders, the game is introduced in this book to young children through a humorous story featuring a toy that becomes a boy and his loyal dog, who find themselves taking a walk through a funny, mixed-up town. As visual aids, the first and last words of each ladder are highlighted in the text of the story, and a vertical list of all the words in the ladder is written separately, with the one changed letter also highlighted: ?Tiny may become huge. / tiny-tine-line-lone-lore-lure-luge-huge.? Wacky, high-energy illustrations by Dave Whamond bring the silliness to life. Making letters and words fun is one of the best ways to cultivate and enhance a child's enjoyment of reading. Playing word ladders can help children increase vocabulary, improve spelling, discover common letter combinations and learn about vowels and consonants. The back of the book provides background on word ladders, as well as classroom activities for children to create their own word ladders or follow an assigned ladder.

Have a seat in the parlour and spend a rollicking evening with this elegant box of 50 Victorian-era entertainments. Deal yourself in for a good time as you choose from a selection of games enjoyed in many a Victorian parlour. The box comes with rules to fifty games that can be played without any extra frippery, except perhaps a deck of cards if you fancy a game of Whist. Each game is good for two or more players, with most designed for a group to play together. Card games and guessing games, pantomime and word play--all provide an after-dinner evening of fun, or an afternoon of amusement on the couch or around a picnic table. These games are simple to learn, quick to play, and have silly penalties for when a player is "out." One side of each card provides the category, the number of players, and the setup for the game while the other has the rules so you can keep them handy as you play. Test your memory with What's in Grandmother's Trunk?, where each player must remember all the other items that have already been named. Take on The Poet's Chair by remembering more poems, songs, or rhymes than any other player Perhaps you wish to Pass the Slipper? Then close your eyes as players pass a small object and on the count of ten, guess who is holding it. Be careful not to break the rules, or you may have to shake hands blindfolded, pretend to be a parrot, or pay another silly forfeit to account for your blunder. Austen aficionados and Bridgerton bingers will delight in these timeless, irreverent games--so pour your afternoon tea and get ready for an evening of nanty narking!

Many Christmas traditions and images of 'old fashioned' holidays are based on Victorian celebrations. Going back just a little further, to the beginning of the 19th century, the holiday Jane Austen knew would have looked distinctly odd to modern sensibilities. How odd? Families rarely decorated Christmas trees. Festivities centered on socializing instead of gift-giving. Festivities focused on adults, with children largely consigned to the nursery. Holiday events, including balls, parties, dinners, and even weddings celebrations, started a week before Advent and extended all the way through to Twelfth Night in January. Take a step into history with Maria Grace as she explores the traditions, celebrations, games and foods that made up Christmastide in Jane Austen's era. Packed with information and rich with detail from period authors, Maria Grace transports the reader to a longed-for old fashioned Christmas. Non-fiction