Peasants of remote history rarely speak to us in their own voices, but Thomas Bisson's engagement with the records of several hundred twelfth-century rural Catalonians enables us to hear these voices. Bisson describes these peasants socially and culturally, showing how their experience figured in a wider crisis of power during the twelfth century.

Voices, tells of a world where lives are adrift in a sea of flames. Such an atmosphere of dancing human remains may be hard to imagine unless it's been lived. Like firebrands streaking through a black night sky, Spirit things can seem a fantasy to a casual eye. As for the telling's in this book: they're not a glimpse aEUR| but a deep gaze and the encounters of a human soul. Born far apart, Sue and Bob's lives began as fairytales aEUR| but as fairytales will do, their dreams bled-out and soaked the ground! Broken homes, drugs, alcohol, and a confused moral compass led them down treacherous paths. Then in 1973, while drifting through the universe, their twisting paths collided one day in the dark. Bob was a violent atheist, who professed he was god; Sue, who once aspired to be a Nun, now dabbled in mysticism in her parched thirst for truth. Then came the days of the Valiant ones who laid siege to our Kingdom for four months. Two months in, Sue prayed through the nightaEUR| and when I learned of it, I threatened her life. God then showed her in a dream, my soul, now completely void of light - and as she watched, giant, soulless birds began devouring me. Two weeks later and close to death, alone in my room I prayed, and once I asked for forgiveness, a voice above me spoke. So the days of my dying ended aEUR| for the days of miracles had now begun! This is a true story

In Negotiation and Resistance, Constance Brittain Bouchard challenges familiar depictions of the peasantry as an undifferentiated mass of impoverished and powerless workers. Peasants in eleventh- and twelfth-century France had far more scope for action, self-determination, and resistance to oppressive treatment—that is, for agency—than they are usually credited with having. Through innovative readings of documents collected in medieval cartularies, Bouchard finds that while peasants lived hard, impoverished lives, they were able to negotiate, individually or collectively, to better their position, present cases in court, and make their own decisions about such fundamental issues as inheritance or choice of marriage partner. Negotiation and Resistance upends the received view of this period in French history as one in which lords dealt harshly and without opposition toward subservient peasants, offering numerous examples of peasants standing up for themselves.

Human rights in peace and development are accepted throughout the Global South as established, normative, and beyond debate. Only in the powerful elite sectors of the Global North have these rights been resisted and refuted. The policies and interests of these global forces are antithetical to advancing human rights, ending global poverty, and respecting the sovereign integrity of States and governments throughout the Global South. The link between poverty, war, and environmental degradation has become evident over the last 60 years, further augmenting international consciousness of these issues as interconnected with the rest of the human rights corpus. This book examines the history of this struggle and outlines practical means to implement these rights through a global framework of constitutional protections. Within this emerging framework, it argues that States will be increasingly obligated to formulate policies and programs to achieve peace and development throughout the global society.

Theresa Corbley Siller is a beautiful, witty, down-to-Earth, homespun, authentic writer. What a talent! She expresses emotions well, and her imagery is vivid. From Torment to Triumph is inspirational and endearing. Scott Hiegel, author of A Souls Journey Home, the story of one mans lifelong quest for purpose and meaning, the evolution of the brain, and poetic verses illustrating humankinds glorious destiny The father of three and a retired US Navy Nurse Corps officer, Richard Siller was abjectly demoralized with his inability to control his weight. Depression and joint paint tormented him for years. He tried several popular diets, all with disappointing results. It wasnt until late 2010 that things finally changed. Richards wife, Theresa, read a book on how God and daily prayer helped one woman take control of her food intake. She gave the book to Richard, and, after reading it, he too realized that he could turn to God to show him how to manage his eating habits. So began a wild ride for Richard and his entire family. At the age of fifty-six, Richard began a new life. He lost over one hundred pounds and began training for a marathon. His family cheered him on when, in 2011, he successfully completed the Marine Corps Marathon. None of it would have been possible without God. Inspiring and down-to-earth, From Torment to Triumph shows how turning to the Lord helped one man overcome a lifetime. of overeating and emerge triumphant.