Oxford University Press

'Monsieur de Maupassant has never before been so clever.' Henry JamesHenry James's admiration for 'this masterly little novel' has been echoed throughout the twentieth century by readers of Pierre et Jean. It marked a turning-point in the development of French fiction, situated as it is between traditional social realism and the psychological...

The story of arsenic in Victorian Britain, looking both at its widespread presence in everything from candles to curtains, and also its more sinister use for murder and suicide....

A Very Short IntroductionThis is a book about the invention of Western philosophy, and the first thinkers to explore ideas about the nature of reality, time, and the origin of the universe. Generations of philosophers, both ancient and modern, have traced their inspiration back to the presocratics, even though we have very few of their writings...

Thinking about church architecture has come to an impasse. Reformers and traditionalists are talking past each other. In Theology in Stone, Richard Kieckhefer seeks to help both sides move beyond the standoff toward a fruitful conversation about houses of worship. Drawing on a wide range of historical examples with an eye to their contemporary...

In this lively and entertaining book Terence Ball injects new life into the great works of political theory. By suggesting new ways of looking at the `classic' texts he shows how they can offer compelling answers to the problems we face today....

Prequel to the stunning, award-winning Cold Tom....