Matthew White – författare

Evangelists of human progress meet their opposite in Matthew White's epic examination of history's one hundred most violent events, or, in White's piquant phrasing, "the numbers that people want to argue about." Reaching back to 480 BCE's second Persian War, White moves chronologically through history to this century's war in the Congo and devotes chapters to each event, where he surrounds hard facts (time and place) and succinct takeaways (who usually gets the blame?) with lively military, social, and political histories. With the eye of a seasoned statistician, White assigns each entry a ranking based on body count, and in doing so he gives voice to the suffering of ordinary people that, inexorably, has defined every historical epoch. By turns droll, insightful, matter-of-fact, and ultimately sympathetic to those who died, The Great Big Book of Horrible Things gives readers a chance to reach their own conclusions while offering a stark reminder of the darkness of the human heart.

Evangelists of human progress meet their opposite in Matthew White’s epic examination of history’s one hundred most violent events, or, in White’s piquant phrasing, “the numbers that people want to argue about.” Reaching back to the Second Persian War in 480 BCE and moving chronologically through history, White surrounds hard facts (time and place) and succinct takeaways (who usually gets the blame?) with lively military, social, and political histories.

Roald Dahl's Little Red Riding Hood joins the famously infamous Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs and the very smelly but loveable Jack and the Beanstalk plus many others in a glittering line up of wickedly funny productions which children and audiences just love.The plot twists something like this: Mr Wolf thinks he's a match for Little Red Riding Hood and her three little piggie pals. He snatches a lead on her and gobbles up Grandma – but his hair raising antics will cost him his skin. And it's sweet Little Red Riding Hood herself who has the ace up her sleeve – or, to be frank – the pistol in her knickers.To present a public performance of this musical you will need a performance licence. Simply email education@harpercollins.co.uk or phone 01484 668 148 and request a Performance Licence Application Form.

The Night Before Christmas is a magical, musical adaptation of the well-known nineteenth century rhyme of the same name. This heart-warming tale brings the magic of Christmas to life in a fantastically festive setting.

Roald Dahl's Jack and the beanstalk, the musical, has Jack (definitely whiffy) and the friendly farm animals defying the Giant's phenomenal sniffing powers and Jack's greedy mother to come out triumphantly rich – and squeaky clean.As well as starring roles for Jack, his mum, and the Giant, there are dozens of parts for farm animals and market traders – and everyone can sing in the chorus.Thousands of children have taken part in school performances of this riotously funny adaptation of Roald Dahl's irreverent twist on the traditional tale.As with every one of these great Roald Dahl musicals, Jack and the Beanstalk is based on an orchestral commission by the Roald Dahl Foundation. The concert work, from which the schools' musical is derived is by Gergs Pelecis, and schools can use the extracts provided from the orchestral work to enhance their performances.To present a public performance of this musical you will need a performance licence. Simply email education@harpercollins.co.uk or phone 01484 668 148 and request a Performance Licence Application Form.

Roald Dahl's The Three Little Pigs joins the famously infamous Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs and the very smelly but loveable Jack and the Beanstalk plus many more in a glittering line up of wickedly funny productions which children and audiences just love.There are five starring roles and dozens of extra parts both off stage and on – and everyone can sing in the chorus.Piggy No. 3 is in a tight corner – Wolf has gobbled up his neighbours and now he's hammering at the door with a stick of dynamite in his hand. Who can Piggy call on for help? Sweet Miss Riding Hood, of course – the fearless wolf-slayer. And how is he to know that she fancies a pigskin handbag to go with her wolfskin coat?!As with every one of these great Roald Dahl musicals, The Three Little Pigs is based on an orchestral commission by the Roald Dahl Foundation. The concert work, from which the schools' musical is derived is by Paul Patterson, and schools can use the extracts provided from the orchestral work to enhance their performances.To present a public performance of this musical you will need a performance licence. Simply email education@harpercollins.co.uk or phone 01484 668 148 and request a Performance Licence Application Form.You can download audio from collins.co.uk/musicals.

A giftable book about New York City’s public clocks—featuring both bygone clocks and others still ticking for a city without a moment to waste.Before watches and mobile phones were widely accessible, people relied on public clocks to keep them running on time. New York City has long been adorned by extravagant public clocks—towers, pediments, skyscrapers, building lobbies, and even sidewalks feature timepieces counting out the pulse of a great metropolis. In New York Minute, Matthew White provides a fascinating tour of 53 spectacular clocks, encouraging us to look up and behold the city in a new way. The book’s twelve chapters, each devoted to a particular category of clock, are ordered as one might move through the city, from workday to weekend. The journey begins at Grand Central Terminal, where the highest number of public clocks are concentrated within a single building, and which itself is crowned by an extravagant Gilded Age clock. As we move toward the weekend, time slows down when we visit iconic New York clocks while shopping, going to church, or taking in the delights of automaton clocks. We end with the clocks of the lost Pennsylvania Station and the contemporary clock in Moynihan Train Hall, the latter reminding us that public timepieces are here to stay. New York Minute contains over 150 images, including historical and contemporary photos, and charming drawings by the author. Published in an attractive, giftable format, this timely book is for native New Yorkers and visitors alike.

In Staging a Musical, Matthew White describes all the elements involved in putting on a musical production, including: how to choose the right show, budgets and schedules, auditions, rehearsals, and performances.

This book analyses the compatibility of data retention in the UK with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The increase in the use of modern technology has led to an explosion of generated data and, with that, a greater interest from law enforcement and intelligence agencies. In the early 2000s, data retention laws were introduced into the UK, and across the European Union (EU). This was met by domestic challenges before national courts, until a seminal ruling by the Court of Justice in the European Union (CJEU) ruled that indiscriminate data retention was incompatible with EU law. Since then, however, the CJEU has revised its position and made certain concessions, particularly under the guise of national security. This book focuses on data retention in the UK with the principal aim of examining compatibility with the ECHR. This is explored through a variety of ways including providing an account of democracy and why secret surveillance poses a threat to it, a history of data retention, assessing the seriousness that data retention poses to fundamental rights, the collection of rights that are affected by data retention which are crucial for a functioning democracy, the implications of who can be obligated to retain (and what to retain), the idea that data retention is a form of surveillance and ultimately, with all things considered, whether this is compatible with the ECHR. The work will be an invaluable resource for students, academics, researchers and policy-makers working in the areas of privacy, human rights law and surveillance.

This book analyses the compatibility of data retention in the UK with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The increase in the use of modern technology has led to an explosion of generated data and, with that, a greater interest from law enforcement and intelligence agencies. In the early 2000s, data retention laws were introduced into the UK, and across the European Union (EU). This was met by domestic challenges before national courts, until a seminal ruling by the Court of Justice in the European Union (CJEU) ruled that indiscriminate data retention was incompatible with EU law. Since then, however, the CJEU has revised its position and made certain concessions, particularly under the guise of national security. This book focuses on data retention in the UK with the principal aim of examining compatibility with the ECHR. This is explored through a variety of ways including providing an account of democracy and why secret surveillance poses a threat to it, a history of data retention, assessing the seriousness that data retention poses to fundamental rights, the collection of rights that are affected by data retention which are crucial for a functioning democracy, the implications of who can be obligated to retain (and what to retain), the idea that data retention is a form of surveillance and ultimately, with all things considered, whether this is compatible with the ECHR. The work will be an invaluable resource for students, academics, researchers and policy-makers working in the areas of privacy, human rights law and surveillance.

In Staging a Musical, Matthew White describes all the elements involved in putting on a musical production, including: how to choose the right show, budgets and schedules, auditions, rehearsals, and performances.

Ever dreamt of putting on a musical from scratch? Or perhaps you already have, but some extra guidance would be welcome. Look no further: this book will give you all the information you need to successfully stage a musical.Placing a firm emphasis on good organisation and careful planning, Matthew White guides the reader through the various stages and processes involved in putting on a musical theatre production: from choosing the right show and creating budgets and schedules, through holding auditions and taking rehearsals, culminating in the final run of performances and the after-show party. The book also explains how to deal successfully with everything from set, costume, and lighting design to ticket sales and publicity.Drawing on his own extensive experience working as a director, actor, and writer in professional musical theatre, the author also talks to other key industry figures to explore how they contribute to the overall process of putting on a show. Staging Musicals is the ultimate step-by-step guide for anyone planning a production, whether working with amateurs, students, or young professionals.

Ever dreamt of putting on a musical from scratch? Or perhaps you already have, but some extra guidance would be welcome. Look no further: this book will give you all the information you need to successfully stage a musical.Placing a firm emphasis on good organisation and careful planning, Matthew White guides the reader through the various stages and processes involved in putting on a musical theatre production: from choosing the right show and creating budgets and schedules, through holding auditions and taking rehearsals, culminating in the final run of performances and the after-show party. The book also explains how to deal successfully with everything from set, costume, and lighting design to ticket sales and publicity.Drawing on his own extensive experience working as a director, actor, and writer in professional musical theatre, the author also talks to other key industry figures to explore how they contribute to the overall process of putting on a show. Staging Musicals is the ultimate step-by-step guide for anyone planning a production, whether working with amateurs, students, or young professionals.