Books published by publisher Manchester University Press

University Press returns with another short and captivating portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures, Eleanor Roosevelt.Eleanor Roosevelt was an iconic figure. Best known for being First Lady of the United States during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, she conquered shyness and marital betrayal and used her quiet power to knock down barriers of race and gender in the United States and promote human rights around the world.After her husband died, Eleanor went on to become chair of the United Nations Human Rights Commission where she formulated, presented, and worked to secure global implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – words that are now written into national constitutions around the globe. This short book tells the intensely human story of a woman who changed the world in a way that no one else could.

University Press returns with another short and captivating portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures, Alexander Hamilton.Alexander Hamilton was an orphan from a remote island in the Caribbean. Yet he went on to become one of the elite Founding Fathers of the United States, and, as America’s first Treasury Secretary, the founder of the nation’s financial system. A man of honor, conviction, and genius, Alexander was still not immune to scandal and conflict. His extra-marital affair deeply hurt his beloved wife and brought him ridicule from his political opponents. And his dispute with Vice President Aaron Burr resulted in their famous duel – and in Hamilton’s violent and premature death.This short book tells the intensely human story of a man who changed the world in a way that no one else could.

The women's rights movement grew out of the women's suffrage movement of the mid-1800s and also addressed other women's legal rights issues. The second wave of the movement, which promoted economic, political, and social equality, gained momentum in the 1960s and '70s, when such groups as the National Organization for Women fought for equal pay and laws banning employment discrimination. Clearly written, The Women's Rights Movement is an illuminating introduction to one of the most prominent reform movements of the last 40 years. The book is published by Chelsea House Publishers, a leading publisher of educational material.

It has been said that the British Empire, on which the sun never set, meant little to the man in the street. Apart from the jingoist eruptions at the death of Gordon or the relief of Mafeking he remained stonily indifferent to the imperial destiny that beckoned his rulers so alluringly. Strange, then that for three-quarters of a century it was scarcely possible to buy a bar of soap or a tin of biscuits without being reminded of the idea of Empire. Packaging, postcards, music hall, cinema, boy's stories and school books, exhibitions and parades, all conveyed the message that Empire was an adventure and an ennobling responsibility. Army and navy were a sure shield for the mother country and the subject peoples alike. Boys' brigades and Scouts stiffened the backbone of youth who flocked to join. In this illuminating study John M. Mackenzie explores the manifestations of the imperial idea, from the trappings of royalty through writers like G. A. Henty to the humble cigarette card. He shows that it was so powerful and pervasive that it outlived the passing of Empire itself and, as events such as the Falklands 'adventure' showed, the embers continue to smoulder.

University Press returns with another short and captivating portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures, Albert Einstein.Albert Einstein was once told by a teacher that he would never amount to anything. Yet he went on to develop the special and general theories of relativity, won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1921, and become the most influential physicist of the 20th century.Einstein would later write that he was deeply affected by his first encounter with a compass at age five. He was mystified that invisible forces could deflect the needle. This would lead to a lifelong fascination with invisible forces. Along his circuitous route to fame, Einstein fell in love, enjoyed his family, escaped from Nazi Germany, experienced heartbreak, and advised the President of the United States.This short book tells the intensely human story of a man who changed the world in a way that no one else could.

The "revenge" play became the most durable and commercially successful type of drama on the Elizabethan stage. This example by Thomas Kyd, who was one of the originators of the genre, brings to life the intrigues of the Spanish court, dramatically juxtaposing romantic passion with sudden violent death and clandestine politics. The ghost of Dan Andrea and his guide Revenge observe the dark and bloody action throughout, provoking questions about the nature of the human condition.

Trash or treasure is a wide-ranging historical study of the British circulation of the video nasties - a term that was originally coined to ban a group of horror videos in Britain in the 1980s but which continues to have cultural resonance in Britain up to the present day.The book is divided into three sections, which represent the key periods of existence of the nasties category - the formation of the term in the 1980s, the fan culture that formed around the nasties subsequent to their banning under the video recordings act and the DVD and theatrical re-release of some of the titles from 1990 onwards. Through an exploration of a range of relevant historical materials (from film reviews to fan websites, to video advertising materials) the book examines how this unusual, historically-specific genre category was formulated in a particular context, and then used (for different reasons) by moral campaigners, distributors, critics and fans.By examining the discourses that inform the circulation of a group of banned films (including the growth of DVD, the internet and the academic rehabilitation of horror films), the book argues that censorship is not just about rules and regulations, but also about the material, cultural and commercial consequences of a censorhsip act of law.It will be of great interest to lecturers and students of film, popular culture and the media, as well as enthusiasts of horror films and those interested in film censorship debates.

Harriet Tubman: BiographyFor decades, children have learned in school that Harriet Tubman was a conductor for the underground railroad, helping slaves reach freedom. Not much else is usually discussed, and for most of us, the complete story of her life is a mystery. Most of this courageous and multi-faceted woman’s life has largely been ignored.Myths and rumors surround her earlier years, as people try to guess where she came from and how she came to be a key player in the abolitionist movement. However, the information is available, primarily through oral history, letters, biographies written during her lifetime, and a few official documents. It takes some digging to get to the bottom of the story, but it is definitely possible.Harriet Tubman was born a slave, but found her way to freedom. Yet, she wasn’t satisfied to stop at caring for her own welfare. She went on to save others from the degradation and harsh conditions of slavery. Her contributions to the abolitionist cause didn’t end there, either. She worked with the union army, taking on dangerous assignments for the benefit of all the slaves and indeed, the betterment of the entire country.Without Harriet Tubman and others who fought from the inside out, the Civil War might have gone completely differently. Her life was and is an inspiring example of what one person can do to right wrongs and change the world for the better.One brief book, or even several full-length biographies, can’t possibly tell Harriet Tubman’s complete story, nor the great lengths she went to to fight for a noble cause. Still, even this short biography will give you a greater understanding and appreciation for this extraordinary figure.Long ago, a powerhouse of a woman brought intelligence, courage and persistence to the monumental task of overcoming slavery. Harriet Tubman inspired the people of her time, and her example continues to speak to the human need to see beyond our own struggles and affect change in our world.Harriet Tubman: The Biography

International humanitarian-aid nurse and New Zealander Andrew Cameron is the winner of the coveted Florence Nightingale Medal. In this gripping book he recounts his remarkable life nursing in some of the world's most dangerous and challenging locations, including South Sudan, Yemen, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. He also details his nursing career in some of Australia's most remote settlements, where anything can be waiting at the end of a long and dusty outback road: a major road accident, a suicide, a broken arm, a stabbing. With mordant humour, wisdom and insight, he recounts the challenges, excitements, and huge rewards of a nursing life.

In January 1921, after a decade of bloody warfare, Mexico's new government found an unlikely partner in its struggle to fulfill the Revolution's promises to the populace. An ambitious philanthropy, born of the wealth of America's most notorious capitalist, made its way into Mexico by offering money and expertise to counter a looming public health crisis. Why did the Rockefeller Foundation and Revolutionary Mexico get together, and how did their relationship last for 30-plus years amidst binational tensions, domestic turmoil, and institutional soul-searching? Transcending standard hagiographic accounts as well as simplistic arguments of cultural imperialism, Marriage of Convenience offers a nuanced analysis of the interaction between the foundation's International Health Division and the Departamento de Salubridad Pública as they jointly promoted public health through campaigns against yellow fever and hookworm disease, organized cooperative rural health units, and educated public health professionals in North American universities and Mexican training stations. Drawing from a wealth of archival sources in both Mexico and the United States, Birn uncovers the complex give-and-take of this early experience of international health cooperation. Birn's historical insights have continuing relevance for the rapidly evolving world of global health today. Anne-Emanuelle Birn is Canada Research Chair in International Health at the University of Toronto.

University Press returns with another short and captivating portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures, Hillary Clinton.Hillary Clinton is one of the most recognized figures in America. She rose from humble beginnings in Chicago to become a First Lady, senator, Secretary of State, and now, presidential candidate. Clinton is no stranger to scandal. She has made mistakes – many of them public. But she is resilient, tenacious, and smart. Public opinion is strongly divided: her supporters adore her; her detractors abhor her. One thing is certain: The world can’t ignore her.This short book tells the intensely human story of a woman who is changing the world in a way that no one else can.