{"title":"Books by Edmund King","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780300181951","title":"King Stephen – Yale English Monarchs","description":"From Yale's English Monarchs series, the most authoritative picture yet of King Stephen\"King has written a masterpiece that reveals how a medieval political community can both consume and then reconstitute itself and offers readers a king emblematic of his truncated, troubled age.\"—Choice King Stephen's reign (1135–1154), with its “nineteen long winters” of civil war, made his name synonymous with failed leadership. After years of work on the sources, Edmund King shows with rare clarity the strengths and weaknesses of the monarch. Keeping Stephen at the forefront of his account, the author also chronicles the activities of key family members and associates whose loyal support sustained Stephen’s kingship. In 1135 the popular Stephen was elected king against the claims of the empress Matilda and her sons. But by 1153, Stephen had lost control over Normandy and other important regions, England had lost prestige, and the weakened king was forced to cede his family’s right to succession.    A rich narrative covering the drama of a tumultuous reign, this book focuses well-deserved attention on a king who lost control of his destiny.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56232682389877,"sku":"9780300181951","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780300181951_73561964-8d9e-412e-9550-8c7c5ff147c6.jpg?v=1786012711"},{"product_id":"9781917516167","title":"The Professional-Managerial Mind","description":"\u003cb\u003eExplores the hyper-politicization of culture, the emergence of \"audit culture,\" and the rise of activist managerialism in British institutions.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArtistic and cultural preferences are increasingly viewed as political statements, with choices in books, films, and other media often seen as ideological signals. This reflects a growing entanglement of culture and politics, where artistic narratives are coded with deeper societal meanings. At the same time, arts and academic institutions are grappling with their histories of injustice, leading to the widespread adoption of equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) policies. Trigger warnings and harm reduction measures have become common in university curricula and museum practices, reflecting a broader focus on justice, inclusivity, and societal accountability.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe legacy of neoliberal “audit culture,” with its emphasis on efficiency and “value for money,” has profoundly shaped institutional missions. However, austerity measures and precarious employment conditions have radicalized many within these institutions, driving a shift toward a new model of activist managerialism. This approach emphasizes moral accountability and positions institutions as leaders in addressing social issues, often reframing internal dissent as opportunities for reform and progress.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDigital platforms, particularly “academic Twitter” and other online communities, play a crucial role in amplifying discourse and fostering global emotional synchronization. These platforms enable the rapid spread of shared perceptions of crisis and moral urgency, further shaping the narratives of academic and cultural institutions. In response, these institutions increasingly position themselves as critical agents of societal healing and reform, striving to address global challenges while navigating both internal and external pressures.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56420613587317,"sku":"9781917516167","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781917516167_b94072d2-2879-4f15-b9f4-5f60db7f8f32.jpg?v=1786035102"},{"product_id":"beyond-woke-and-anti-woke","title":"Beyond Woke and Anti-Woke","description":"\u003cp\u003eMany rail against ‘woke’ ideology. Others dismiss the backlash as a rebranding of conservative concerns. Taking a third way, this book argues that social justice ideology centres identity and direct action and expands concepts of harm, distinguishing it from liberalism. Drawing on the latest datasets, the book offers a sober, evidence-based account of the ideology’s emergence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs women and minorities have gained visibility and new generations have come of age, progressive ideologies have shifted under pressure. Post-2008 economic crises weakened liberalism, giving social justice ideology mass appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAmid polarized debates over ‘woke’ culture, this is a vital resource for scholars and students seeking an objective study of social justice ideology beyond the usual culture-war framing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57647742353781,"sku":"9781529256499","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-edmund-king.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}