Set during the First World War, the narrative follows Lieutenant Harry Colebourn, a Canadian soldier and veterinarian, who buys a bear cub in Ontario. Named Winnipeg, this bear captivates the heart of Christopher, the son of A.A. Milne, ultimately inspiring the beloved Winnie the Pooh stories. The tale intertwines themes of companionship and the impact of war, highlighting the unique bond between humans and animals amidst historical events.
Awareness of the natural world's complexity, fragility, and beauty fosters a deep appreciation for its significance. This understanding drives the recognition of the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect our environment.
Sufism: A Global History is a unique account of global Sufism, tracing the gradual spread and adaptation of Sufi Islam through the Middle East into Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, Africa, and in the 20th century Europe and America.
"Global Islam-A Very Short Introduction looks at the methods used by individuals, organizations, and states to spread multiple versions of Islam around the world. Since the late nineteenth century, publications, missions, congresses, and pilgrimages have contributed to the communication and evolution of Islam. At the start of the twentieth century, the infrastructure of the European empire allowed for the widespread communication of Islamic beliefs. During a period of secularism in the mid-twentieth century, global Islam became more accessible and, in some cases, more political. How have today's broadcasting and smartphone technologies changed the face of global Islam? Will communication technologies reconcile the contradictions between variations of the faith, or will they create new ones?"--
A pioneering history of cross-cultural knowledge that exposes enduring fractures in unity across the world's largest continent
"In July 1815, six Iranian students arrived in London under the escort of their chaperone, Captain Joseph D'Arcy. Their mission was to master the modern sciences behind the rapid rise of Europe. Over the next four years, they lived both the low life and high life of Regency London, from being down and out after their abandonment by D'Arcy to charming their way into society and landing on the gossip pages. The Love of Strangers tells the story of their search for love and learning in Jane Austen's England. Drawing on the Persian diary of the student Mirza Salih and the letters of his companions, Nile Green vividly describes how these adaptable Muslim migrants learned to enjoy the opera and take the waters at Bath. But there was more than frivolity to their student years in London. Burdened with acquiring the technology to defend Iran against Russia, they talked their way into the observatories, hospitals, and steam-powered factories that placed England at the forefront of the scientific revolution. All the while, Salih dreamed of becoming the first Muslim to study at Oxford. The Love of Strangers chronicles the frustration and fellowship of six young men abroad to open a unique window onto the transformative encounter between an Evangelical England and an Islamic Iran at the dawn of the modern age. This is that rarest of books about the Middle East and the West: a story of friendships"
Exploring the lives of 20 renowned ornithologists, this book delves into the development of ornithology as a science. Each chapter highlights the contributions and intriguing stories of these individuals, showcasing their impact on the field. With a comprehensive approach, it offers insights into both the personal and professional journeys of these influential figures, making it a fascinating read for those interested in birds and the history of scientific discovery.
Focusing on the significant transformations in the Arctic, this book combines education and entertainment to engage readers with the pressing environmental issues facing the region. It encourages a critical examination of the past and present dynamics in the Far North, highlighting the importance of understanding these changes for future implications.
A global Islamic history from the bottom up. The book examines how encounters throughout the world transformed Muslim practices, drawing on a wealth of materials, from Indian magazines for African Americans to Muslim Japanology; from Urdu tales of ocean-going saints to diaries of German missionaries; from Bibles in Tatar to the first Arabic books.
This book provides the first overview of the history and development of Islam in Afghanistan. Written by leading international experts, chapters cover every era from the conversion of Afghanistan through the medieval period to the present day. Based on primary sources in Arabic, Persian, Pashto, Uzbek, and Urdu, its depth of coverage is unrivalled in providing a developmental picture of Afghanistan's Islam, including such issues as the rise of Sufism, women's religiosity, state religious policies, and transnational Islamism. Looking beyond the unifying rhetoric of theology, the book reveals the disparate and contested forms of Afghanistan's Islam.