Bøger af Chris West

An entertaining look at the changing face of the Eurovision Song Contest and the political and cultural influences behind its kitsch and glitzy facade.Do you think the world of the Eurovision Song Contest, with its crazy props, even crazier dancers, and crazier still songs has nothing to do with serious European politics? Think again. The contest has been a mirror for cultural, social, and political developments in Europe ever since its inauguration, when an audience in dinner jackets and ball gowns politely applauded each song. It has been a voice of rebellion across the Iron Curtain, an inspiration for new European nations in the 1990s and 2000s, the voice of liberation for both sexual and regional minorities. It even once triggered a national revolution.Eurovision! charts both the history of Europe and the history of the Eurovision Song Contest over the last six decades, and shows how seamlessly they interlink - and what an amazing journey it has been.

Fifteen-year-old Martina is an empath, or a human being with the ability to heal others through physical touch. When Martina is captured by an evil corporation's covert military squad, her friends the Oathtakers spring into action. Martina soon discovers she holds the key to helping the Oathtakers protect humankind!

The achievements of Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889) as a solo performer on the double bass tower above those of any other player before or since. In fact it's hard to think of any other field of human endeavour where one person has gone so far beyond everybody else.For nearly fifty years he astonished and delighted audiences on four continents.This new biography The Paganini of the Double Bass: Bottesini in Britain tells the complete life story of this remarkable man. He visited Britain over twenty times and performed in around 800 concerts including thirteen lengthy national tours. His many appearances in London throughout the Victorian era took place in a changing musical scene, as rival opera companies went to war, and concert promoters experimented with different ways of presenting music to the public.Bottesini, almost uniquely, was an outstanding success at the most serious philharmonic concerts and the rowdiest popular events. He was particularly associated with the Proms. He appeared over 200 times between 1851 and 1887, and even shared conducting duties with Johann Strauss II for the 1867 season, but he did not quite live long enough to see the era of Henry Wood.Although this book covers Bottesini's career in Britain in most detail, it describes his entire life: how his company in Havana raised the standards of opera in America in the late 1840show he had major conducting positions in Mexico, Paris, Barcelona, Cairo and Buenos Airesthe story behind how he came to conduct the world premiere of Aidahow the operas he composed met with success but never became established in the repertoirehis pioneering role in introducing purely instrumental music to Italyhow his constant gambling forced him to keep going back on the road with his double basshis up-and-down relationships with Verdi, Rossini and the powerful publishing house of Ricordihis two wives, hardly mentioned in any previous studyThe inclusion of around 20 letters to his closest friend, most of them not in any previous book about Bottesini, allows us to see the great double bass player's life from his own perspective - his domestic quarrels, his financial pressures and his professional rivalries.280 pagesAvailable from AmazonBased on almost 10000 references in contemporary periodicals, mainly in the UK, but also Italy, Germany, France, USA, Cuba, etcMany inaccurate dates and places from previous studies have been correctedAll UK appearances listedThree major interviews with Bottesini from UK newspapersOver 70 contemporary reviews27 picturesMany adverts and documents from the eraThe first ever chronological listing of his music for double bass sheds light on the development of his techniquesDetailed index of all people, places and works mentioned

"The story line is fast-paced: Bao Zheng is a great character; and the supporting cast adds depth to the plot." Strand Magazine 1999. China's transformational decade is coming to a close. A giant clock in Tiananmen Square is ticking away the weeks, days, hours and seconds till the start of the new millennium. But not everyone is celebrating. On the streets of Beijing, a small religious cult is attracting young people dissatisfied with materialism and the harshness of modernity. When Inspector Bao Zheng's sister-in-law joins, there is little that he or his wife can do. Then the cult leader is murdered. Bao gets himself assigned to the case, but hits a wall of silence and suspicion. But does the answer to the case lie outside the walls of the cult's remote, austere compound, anyway? Rumours start seeping out that the new leader is planning a grand, destructive gesture to coincide with the new era. Bao needs to both find the killer and prevent this, while that giant clock keeps ticking down... Chris West is a British writer. He works in a range of genres: business, psychology, history and crime / general fiction. His China Quartet, four mysteries written in the 1990s, were among the first crime novels to be set in the contemporary People's Republic of China.Praise for the Inspector Bao Zheng series: 'Does for China what Gorky Park did for Russia.' Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel'Few authors since Robert van Gulik have been able to create such a wonderful picture of Chinese society.' Mystery Review'A perfect melding of character, plot and atmosphere. My number one read for the year.' Mid-West Review'Not only an ingenious whodunit, but an inquest into the Cultural Revolution and the violence it did a generation. Skilfully assembled, with people and places vividly rendered, and with history speeding through the narrative like adrenalin.' Philip Oakes, Literary Review'A dazzling tour of contemporary Beijing life.' Publishers Weekly 'A bang-up-to-date commentary on the dilemmas of modern China, where young and old are grappling with the change from ancient traditions and Marxism to consumer-crazy Westernization.' Tangled Web 'Teasing and cunning, with lots of misleading clues.' Gerald Kaufman, The Scotsman

Woodturning is a very popular hobby in the USA and making salt and pepper shakers is one of the most common projects woodturners enjoy doing. This book belongs on the shelf of every American woodturner, and in the woodworking section of bookstores and libraries.Chris West, the author of 'Adding Spice to Your Woodturning', is Europe's go-to guy for turning salt and pepper shakers. If you know him through his woodturning articles in American woodturning magazines you will already appreciate his practical approach which gets you working on projects right away.This book presents 15 original and unique projects for turning salt and pepper shakers plus 5 additional projects on making spice shakers and other condiment accessories for either the home or the restaurant. Hone your skills turning these unique, beautiful and useful objects for family and friends, or to sell through your site or at markets. "Adding Spice to your Woodturning" was designed for use in the workshop. The book is hardcover, the pages are made of heavy-duty art paper, and the book is spiral bound (hidden spiral system of binding) so the pages will lay flat and won't turn while you are working on a particular project. There are projects here for beginning, intermediate and experienced turners but regardless of the skill level of the project each one will result in a beautiful object that will give you great satisfaction and words of praise from those who see it. --Chris West

The Karpman Drama Triangle Explained is a clear, simple guide to this powerful psychological model created by Dr Stephen Karpman, MD. The model is used widely in Coaching, Management, Therapy - and in everyday life, by thoughtful people who want to live better. The model shows how we can find ourselves acting out the roles of Rescuer, Persecutor or Victim, and can not only act out these roles but trap other people into acting them out, too. We can also have this done to us.The book describes the roles, and discusses how they are learnt in childhood. It goes on to discuss how people intensify the dramas (and rope in others) by switching roles. Finally, it discusses how we can spot these patterns of thought and behaviour in ourselves - and in the behaviour of others - and do something positive about it.

Please pass the salt! And pepper! This first ever book dedicated to turning salt and pepper shakers and mills will guide turners in creating small projects that are practical and beautiful, perfect for yourself or to give as a handmade gift. The 30 step-by-step projects, rated by level of difficulty, are fairly easy to finish and use only small amounts of expensive materials. While turning wood is the focus, author Chris West also shows how the same design can be reconceived using different accessories--like glass, metals, or ceramics--and assembly methods. The designs include both traditional and CrushGrind mechanisms, which allow for more flexibility and grinding options (for coarse or fine grit). A gallery of work from internationally recognized turners rounds out this craft-pleasing book filled with beautiful pieces.

This resource for companies entering new markets presents a guide for establishing a global mindset, undertaking research, building competitive intelligence, assessing customer needs, and evaluating a wide variety of expansion options, from exporting to franchizing to joint ventures.

Perfect Written English is an indispensable guide to mastering grammar and improving your writing style.