Christmas-Tide is a captivating anthology that immerses readers in the heart-warming and thought-provoking themes of Yuletide celebrations and traditions. Through an array of prose eliciting a range of emotions, the collection navigates the intricacies of family, goodwill, and the often-overlooked melancholic undertones that accompany the season. With each piece painting a vivid portrait of Victorian and early 20th-century Christmas, the anthology captures both the boisterous revelry and the quiet introspection of the festive period. Memorable excerpts invite readers to ponder the profound significance of generosity and human connection during this universal festivity. The anthology features standout contributions from literary stalwarts Charles Dickens and Elizabeth Harrison, whose works collectively form a dialogue that enriches the theme of the anthology. Dickenss keen exploration of societal dynamics is beautifully complemented by Harrisons evocative insights into the moral and educational aspects of Christmas. This collaboration across distinct literary traditions foregrounds the cultural and historical backdrop of the time, enhancing the anthologys exploration of the Christmas spirit and its transformative potential. Christmas-Tide presents an exemplary opportunity for readers to journey through varied literary landscapes within one volume. Ideal for both the casual reader and the literary enthusiast, this collection offers a rich tapestry of styles and narratives that collectively evoke the warmth and complexity of Christmas. By engaging with these timeless pieces, readers are invited to enter a dialogue with the past, gaining invaluable insights into the continuously evolving traditions of this cherished holiday season.
The political project of reasserting feminist engagement with development has proceeded uneasily in recent years. This book examines how the arguments of feminist researchers have often become depoliticised by development institutions and offers richly contextualised accounts of the pitfalls and compromises of the politics of engagement. Speaking from within academic institutions, social movements, development bureaucracies and national and international NGOs, the contributors highlight on-going battles for interpretation and the unequal power relations within which these battles take place. They engage with the challenges of achieving solidarity in the context of increasingly polarised geo-political relations, and advance a diversity of critiques of simplified ideas about gender, and how these ideas come to be interpreted in institutional policies and practices.