Books with author William Chatto

Brilliantly written by a prize-winning historian, The Unfinished Journey, Eighth Edition, considers both the paradoxes and the possibilities of postwar America. William H. Chafe portrays the significant cultural and political themes that have colored our country's past and present, including issues of race, class, gender, foreign policy, and economic and social reform. He examines such subjects as the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, the origins and the end of the Cold War, the culture of the 1970s, the rise of the New Right, the events of September 11th and their aftermath, and various presidencies.

There is an interest, of a certain kind, even in the solution of a riddle, or the explication of a conundrum; and certain learned men, such as Père Daniel, and Court de Gebelin, having assumed that the game of Cards was originally instructive, and that the figures and marks of the suits are emblematic, speaking to the intelligent of matters of great import, their amusingly absurd speculations on the subject—set forth with all the gravity of a "budge doctor" determining ex cathedra—impart to the History of Cards an interest which, intrinsically, it does not possess. But putting aside all that may relate to their covert meaning, cards, considered with respect to what they simply are—the instruments of a popular game, and the productions of art—suggest several questions, the investigation of which is not without interest: Where and when were they invented, and what is the origin of their names?

"Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards" by William Andrew Chatto. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards by William Andrew ChattoShould a person who has never bestowed a thought on the subject ask, "What can there be that is interesting in the History of Cards?" it is answered, "There may be much." There is an interest, of a certain kind, even in the solution of a riddle, or the explication of a conundrum; and certain learned men, such as Père Daniel, and Court de Gebelin, having assumed that the game of Cards was originally instructive, and that the figures and marks of the suits are emblematic, speaking to the intelligent of matters of great import, their amusingly absurd speculations on the subject—set forth with all the gravity of a "budge doctor" determining ex cathedra—impart to the History of Cards an interest which, intrinsically, it does not possess. But putting aside all that may relate to their covert meaning, cards, considered with respect to what they simply are—the instruments of a popular game, and the productions of art—suggest several questions, the investigation of which is not without interest: Where and when were they invented, and what is the origin of their names? When were they introduced into Europe? What has been their progress as a popular game; and what influence have they had on society? What changes have they undergone with respect to the figures and the marks of the suits; and to what purposes have picture and fancy cards been made subservient, in consequence of those in common use being so generally understood? And lastly, what have been the opinions of moralists and theologians with respect to the lawfulness of the game?—Such are the topics discussed, and questions examined, in the following pages.Of the works of previous writers on the origin of Cards I have freely availed myself; using them as guides when I thought them right, pointing out their errors when I thought them wrong, and allowing them to speak for themselves whenever they seemed instructive or amusing. Having no wish to appropriate what was not my own, I have quoted my authorities with scrupulous fidelity; and am not conscious of an obligation which I have not acknowledged. Should the reader not obtain from this work all the information on Cards which he might have expected, it is hoped that he will at least acquire from its perusal a knowledge of the true value of such investigations. Between being well informed on a subject, and knowing the real worth of such information, there is a distinction which is often overlooked, especially by antiquaries.In the Illustrations will be found a greater variety of Cards than have hitherto been given in any other work on the same subject, not excepting the splendid publication of the Society of Bibliophiles Français, entitled 'Jeux de Cartes Tarots et de Cartes Numérales du Quatorzième au Dix-huitième Siècle.' All the cards—with the exception of the French Valets, at p. 250, and the Portuguese Chevaliers, at p. 252,—have been copied by Mr. F. W. Fairholt; and all the wood-engravings—with the exception of the tail-piece, by W. J. Linton, at p. 330,—have been executed by Mr. George Vasey.

The ancient ruins of Southeast Asia have long sparked curiosity and romance in the world’s imagination. They appear in accounts of nineteenth-century French explorers, as props for Indiana Jones’ adventures, and more recently as the scene of Lady Lara Croft’s fantastical battle with the forces of evil. They have been featured in National Geographic magazine and serve as backdrops for popular television travel and reality shows. Now William Chapman’s expansive new study explores the varied roles these monumental remains have played in the histories of Southeast Asia’s modern nations.Based on more than fifteen years of travel, research, and visits to hundreds of ancient sites, A Heritage of Ruins shows the close connection between “ruins conservation” and both colonialism and nation building. It also demonstrates the profound impact of European-derived ideas of historic and aesthetic significance on ancient ruins and how these continue to color the management and presentation of sites in Southeast Asia today. Angkor, Pagan (Bagan), Borobudur, and Ayutthaya lie at the center of this cultural and architectural tour, but less visited sites, including Laos’s stunning Vat Phu, the small temple platforms of Malaysia’s Lembah Bujang Valley, the candi of the Dieng Plateau in Java, and the ruins of Mingun in Burma and Wiang Kum Kam near Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, are also discussed. All share a relative isolation from modern urban centers of population, sitting in park-like settings, serving as objects of tourism and as lynchpins for local and even national economies. Chapman argues that these sites also remain important to surrounding residents, both as a means of income and as continuing sources of spiritual meaning. He examines the complexities of heritage efforts in the context of present-day expectations by focusing on the roles of both outside and indigenous experts in conservation and management and on attempts by local populations to reclaim their patrimony and play a larger role in protection and interpretation. Tracing the history of interventions aimed at halting time’s decay, Chapman provides a chronicle of conservation efforts over a century and a half, highlighting the significant part foreign expertise has played in the region and the ways that national programs have, in recent years, begun to break from earlier models. The book ends with suggestions for how Southeast Asian managers and officials might best protect their incomparable heritage of art and architecture and how this legacy might be preserved for future generations.

The 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s were decades of vast changes in the world at large--new nations emerged, technology advanced at a record pace, and global and environmental awareness intensified. Perhaps no change was more obvious than the shifting roles of women in the family, society, the economy, and in politics. More changes occurred in these three decades than in the preceding 300 years--yet fundamental problems of gender inequality remained. The women's movement that grew in the 1960s transformed ways of thinking about men's and women's destinies. Stimulated by the a climate of confrontation and activism, American women organized to challenge prejudices about female capabilities and stereotypes about women's "place." In areas as diverse as work, sexuality, emotion, and politics women sought to claim rights as individuals, and to upset the hierarchy of power between the sexes. But the revolution in women's status affected women in dramatically different ways, depending on whether they were white or nonwhite, rich or poor, married or divorced. Too often the benefits that were won protected only white, middle-class women. Actions that might have brought advancement for women of all classes and races, such as creating affordable child care, were often not addressed. Other women did not welcome "liberation" at all, but saw it as an attack on the very foundation of society and the tradition of the family. Ethnicity, class, and philosophical belief remained powerful obstacles to universal sisterhood. Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Phyllis Schlafly, Roe v. Wade, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), the National Organization of Women (NOW), and the Moral Majority were among the major influences during these turbulent decades. They represent women from varied walks of life, economic conditions, races, and religions who found themselves questioning and challenging each other as often as they did traditional society. The journey along The Road to Equality is not yet over. many barriers of gender and race have yet to be overcome. But even so, it is fair to say that this was an era of liberation.

The 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s were decades of vast changes in the world at large new nations emerged, technology advanced at a record pace, and environmental awareness intensified. Perhaps no change was more obvious than the shifting roles of women. William H. Chafe shows how the 1960s women's movement transformed ways of thinking about men's and women's destinies. In areas as diverse as work, sexuality, and politics women sought to claim rights as individuals, and to upset the hierarchy of power between the sexes. Feminist T-shirts proclaimed "A Woman Without a Man is Like a Fish Without a Bicycle." Betty Friedan published her groundbreaking book The Feminine Mystique. Gloria Steinem launched Ms. Magazine, a key voice of the feminist movement. The peace symbol and Woodstock became icons of the new political and counterculture, and the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979 challenged sexual mores. Shirley Chisholm, Phyllis Schlafly, Roe v. Wade, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), the National Organization of Women (NOW), and the Moral Majority were other major influences during these turbulent decades. They represented women from varied walks of life, economic conditions, races, and religions who found themselves questioning and challenging each other as often as they did traditional society.