John Manning – författare

A serial killer stalks a young governess as she uncovers the deadly history of a coastal New England village in this “brilliantly executed” thriller (Kevin O'Brien, New York Times bestselling author on All the Pretty Dead Girls) Point Woebegone. From the moment Daphne May steps off the train, it's clear that this small Maine town is aptly named. Even before she reaches Swallowtail, the windswept house where she'll be working as a governess, Daphne's sense of foreboding is justified. A waitress's gruesome death sets the whole town on edge--especially the wealthy, eccentric Witherspoon family. There are rumors, hostile whispers. Daphne tries to adjust to her strange surroundings and difficult pupil, finding a friend in local property developer Gregory Winston. Then a killer strikes again--and again. A psychopath is culling his victims with brutal precision, and Daphne's arrival is far from random. But knowledge may come too late to save her from the secrets in her past, with a killer hiding in plain sight. . ."If you like Dean Koontz, you'll love John Manning!" —Wendy Corsi Staub, New York Times bestselling author

For the past twelve years, Fred Kyle has wrapped whiskey-drenched clouds around him while hiding in a cheap motel in Austin, Texas. A knock on the door reveals a face from the past, and suddenly all of the horror and death of an ill-fated Thanksgiving hunting trip over a decade ago is swirling around him.

Amanda Carlyle has been searching for Fred, her fathers former best friend, for two years. Not sure of what she expects to find on the other side of the motel room door, Amanda knocks, knowing she must face Fred in order to uncover the truth about what killed her father nearly twelve years ago. Was it really a hunting accident as Fred had told the police? Or was it something so evil that Fred has been crippled by the horrific memories ever since? But Amanda needs to knowone way or the otherand demands to know the real story behind the fatal events.

With Freds reluctant retelling comes hints of a heritage he has tried to ignore, the pull of the fiddles, and the realization that he must finally send back the evil he and his friends accidentally released long ago.

Many books have been published on Charles Dickens; there are, however, surprisingly few that have made more than passing comment on Dickens''s treatment of schools and education. This is the more striking in view of the significance education had for Dickens, the forcefulness of the criticisms he made, and the influence of his opinions on the public. This account of Dickens''s interest in education covers his life and times, and his fiction, speeches, articles, and letters, Since our knowledge of Dickens''s own schooling in not very extensive, and minor errors are to be found even in Forster''s account of his early years, the author has made a careful analysis of Dickens''s formal schooling and other experiences that informed his mind. In the novels and short stories, Dickens discussed some fifty schools and more than that number of teachers. These portrayals of teachers, schools, and school life have been group by Professor Manning under various heads: education through church and charity, education through private enterprise, education of girls, and educational theory and practice. Dickens''s views as stated in his articles, speeches, and letters, have been dealt with separately from the fiction, since these utterances must be appraised on a different basis. In order to provide the background against which Dickens was writing, Professor Manning refers frequently to government documents and the reports of various commissions. He presents evidence from these sources, and from inspectors'' reports, biographical and autobiographical works, and private diaries, to show the actual conditions that existed in the various types of schools. This book should prove valuable to students of English literature, to educationists, and to historians. The general reader will also find in it much of interest, for schooling is within most people''s experience, education is everybody''s business, and Dickens''s admirers are legion.

Ericas come in an astonishing array of sizes, shapes and colours. Some 760 species, many of them found nowhere else, occur in the Cape Floristic region – a centre of unparalleled diversity for the genus and home to one of the world’s richest floras. Even when in bloom, telling these delicate flowers apart is extremely challenging.

Proteas are South Africa’s wildflower celebrities: the King Protea is emblazoned on the National Coat of Arms and gives its name to the country’s cricket team. A total of 330 protea species are found in the fynbos of the Cape Floristic Region – the botanical treasure house at the southern tip of Africa. Proteas of the Fynbosfeatures 165 of the region’s more common or showy species, with pointers to many more. Each species account details diagnostic features, flowering times, habitats and distribution, while colour photographs showcase the beauty and diversity of this charismatic plant group. An informative introduction explores the biology, pollination, origin and conservation status of fynbos proteas, and highlights features to aid identification. Arranged in groups and subgroups for easy identification, this innovative guide enables flower enthusiasts to confidently identify over half of all fynbos protea species. Sales points: Accessible and user-friendly design. Full-colour photographs of each species. Key ID features highlighted for quick reference.