DeZert Isle


Book Description

Jules is a Zert. He lives on DeZert Isle with his best friend Ned the Nail, and he's in love with a brick. Jules's life is happy and busy; he has plenty of friends, lots of games to play, and sausages to tempt the brick of his dreams. But there are certain things he detests.




An Uncharted Desert Isle


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Desert Islands and the Liquid Modern


Book Description

This book investigates desert islands in postwar anglophone popular culture, exploring representations in radio, print and screen advertising, magazine cartoons, cinema, video games, and comedy, drama and reality television. Drawing on Zygmunt Bauman’s theory of liquid modernity, desert island texts are analysed in terms of their intersections with repressive and seductive mechanisms of power. Chapters focus on the desert island as: a conflictingly in/coherent space that characterises identity as deferred and structured by choice; a location whose ‘remoteness’ undermines satirical critiques of communal identity formation; a site whose ambivalent relationship with ‘home’ and Otherness destabilises patriarchal ‘Western’ subjectivity; a space bound up with mobility and instantaneity; and an expression of radical individuality and underdetermined identity. The desert island in popular culture is shown to reflect, endorse and critique a profoundly consumerist society that seduces us with promises of coherence, with the threat of repression looming if we do not conform.







Space and Place in Children’s Literature, 1789 to the Present


Book Description

Focusing on questions of space and locale in children’s literature, this collection explores how metaphorical and physical space can create landscapes of power, knowledge, and identity in texts from the early nineteenth century to the present. The collection is comprised of four sections that take up the space between children and adults, the representation of 'real world' places, fantasy travel and locales, and the physical space of the children’s book-as-object. In their essays, the contributors analyze works from a range of sources and traditions by authors such as Sylvia Plath, Maria Edgeworth, Gloria Anzaldúa, Jenny Robson, C.S. Lewis, Elizabeth Knox, and Claude Ponti. While maintaining a focus on how location and spatiality aid in defining the child’s relationship to the world, the essays also address themes of borders, displacement, diaspora, exile, fantasy, gender, history, home-leaving and homecoming, hybridity, mapping, and metatextuality. With an epilogue by Philip Pullman in which he discusses his own relationship to image and locale, this collection is also a valuable resource for understanding the work of this celebrated author of children’s literature.




The Definitive Desert Island Discs


Book Description

Eight tracks. Endless stories. Allow yourself to be cast away in eight glorious decades of the most iconic show on radio. To mark this momentous occasion, The Definitive Desert Island Discs focuses on 80 of the most powerful and unforgettable interviews, revisiting every era of Desert Island Disc's storied history. Reflecting on how times have changed, the book will feature brand new material as castaways are interviewed about their experiences - did the conversation go how they expected? Would Sir Patrick Stewart still take his beloved billiards table (and a shed to keep it in, of course)? And does Hilary Devey stick by her endless supply of Cointreau? Get lost in lists of the weirdest and most wonderful luxury items, most popular tracks and books throughout the years, and more. Introduced by Lauren Laverne, The Definitive Desert Island Discs is a must-have gem, celebrating an incredible institution that has captured the hearts of a nation for 80 years.




The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island


Book Description

Johann David Wyss' 'The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island' is a classic novel that follows the survival and adventures of a Swiss family shipwrecked on a deserted island. The book is written in a descriptive and didactic style, detailing the family's ingenious efforts to overcome challenges and create a sustainable life on the island. Set in the context of 19th-century adventure literature, Wyss' work showcases themes of resourcefulness, family unity, and the triumph of human spirit amidst adversity. The story is filled with exciting escapades and moral lessons, making it a timeless tale for readers of all ages. The vivid imagery and detailed exploration of the island environment add depth to the narrative, engaging readers in the family's journey of survival and self-discovery. Johann David Wyss, a Swiss author and educational reformer, drew inspiration from his own beliefs and experiences to create a story that emphasizes the values of resilience, ingenuity, and cooperation. His background in education and storytelling shines through in the narrative, making 'The Swiss Family Robinson' both entertaining and insightful. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy adventure stories, nature-themed literature, and tales of human perseverance. Wyss' novel is a captivating blend of adventure, survival, and moral reflection that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.