Stephen Parker Boeken

Discover the iconic and enduring beauty of English gardens, the people who made them, and the legacy they leave We may all feel we know what an “English” garden is, but do we really? England’s Gardens offers a holistic, modern-day tour and an update on the history of some of the most iconic, enduring, and influential gardens across the country. A fresh take on a much-loved subject, this book will help you get to know England’s gardens up close and personal. Garden historian Stephen Parker leads you through England’s horticultural history, unearthing the cultural context and hidden stories behind the gardens, and bringing lesser-known garden makers to the fore. In five detailed historical essays, Parker explores the making of the so-called “English” garden – from its origins in the formal splendour of stately homes, all the way to climate-change resilience and future-facing designs of the modern era. Discover the best gardens to visit today – with garden case studies showcasing everything England's gardens have to offer through stunning contemporary photography and careful analysis of planting schemes and garden makers’ creative influences. From iconic sites like Sissinghurst and Great Dixter, to more unusual examples such as Plaz Metaxu and the Laskett – this book celebrates England’s gardens in all their glorious diversity, sublime beauty, and exuberant eccentricity.

This first English language biography of Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) in two decades paints a strikingly new picture of one of the twentieth century's most controversial cultural icons. First published in 2014 and now available in paperback, it was critically lauded and declared the definitive life of this great artist and writer. Drawing on letters, diaries and unpublished material, including Brecht's medical records, Parker offers a rich and enthralling account of Brecht's life and work, viewed through the prism of the artist. Tracing his extraordinary life, from his formative years in Augsburg, through the First World War, his politicisation during the Weimar Republic and his years of exile, up to the Berliner Ensemble's dazzling productions in Paris and London, Parker shows how Brecht achieved his transformative effect upon world theatre and poetry. Bertolt Brecht: A Literary Life is a powerful portrait of a great, compulsively contradictory personality, whose artistry left its lasting imprint on modern culture.

A significant number of 4th and 8th graders struggle with reading proficiency, highlighting a crisis in local schools. This book offers a solution by empowering parents to teach their children to read using a Synthetic Phonics program. It emphasizes decoding words through phonetic sounds rather than sight words or guessing. Suitable for preschoolers, older children, and even adults, this guide provides the tools needed to foster literacy effectively, aligning with recent advancements in reading science.

První anglickojazyčná biografie Bertolta Brechta (1898–1956) vykresluje pohled na jednu z nejkontroverznějších kulturních osobností 20. století. Na základě dopisů, deníků a doposud nepublikovaného materiálu, zahrnujícího Brechtovy lékařské záznamy, nabízí Parker bohatý a fascinující obraz jeho života a názorně objasňuje, jak se díky svébytnosti a velkým ambicím stal nejodvážnějším divadelním inovátorem své doby.