Mark Knowles

A historical action and adventure fiction novel, featuring the re-telling of Jason and the Golden Fleece, by Cambridge classicist Mark Knowles.

Argo

The Age of Heroes is dead.

Decades after the voyage of the fabled Argo, the last remaining Argonauts are scattered to the corners of the Greek world. The last vestiges of once-mighty kingdoms are crumbling or already lie in ruins and the enemy is nearly at the gates. The gods have abandoned Greece. The Sea People are coming...

If the Age of Heroes has truly passed, never to be reborn, then great men will fade and pass into legend. Only one man can channel the spirit of the Argonauts and inspire and renew the heroism of old... and it may yet be too late. Will the old world crumble and burn... or will a new hero rise to victory?

Reviews for the Blades of Bronze series

'A bold and thrilling voyage that plunges you deep into the world of ancient myth. Knowles's storytelling captured my imagination from the very first page. Wonderfully atmospheric.' Daisy Dunn
'What a spectacular triumph! Knowles has taken a reassuringly familiar legend and elevated it into a new, realistic and engrossing story.' Sam Taw
'A deeply researched historical epic, so brilliantly brought to life I could taste the salt air on my tongue.' Adam Lofthouse

Hades

Packed with action, adventure, and intrigue, Jason is perfect for fans of Christian Cameron and Madeline Miller. They may have won the prize, but will any of them make it home alive? Jason has fulfilled the mission set him by his uncle, the scheming King Pelias of Iolkos: he and the Argonauts have won the fabled Golden Fleece of Colchis. Jason dreams of glory – of taking his uncle's throne, rightfully his – and, like his warrior shipmates, of home. But it is not only Pelias who wishes Jason ill. Before the Argonauts can make it back to Iolkos, they must contend with a legion of foes who would see them dead – and a web of allies who are not quite what they seem. Jason and his warriors must outwit the recondite Circe and the spies of mighty Troy, overcome hostile tribes beyond the Danube, and sail the troubled waters of the Archipelagos, where the Sirens wait to snare unwary seafarers. Yet Jason's perils are only beginning, for he will soon discover that a truer evil lies closer to home... 'A bold and thrilling voyage that plunges you deep into the world of ancient myth with every stroke of Jason's oar. Knowles's storytelling captured my imagination from the very first page. It is wonderfully atmospheric' Daisy Dunn, editor of ARGO: A Hellenic Review, and author of Of Gods and Men: 100 Stories from Ancient Greece & Rome Reviewers on Mark Knowles: 'A deeply researched historical epic, so brilliantly brought to life I could taste the salt air on my tongue' Adam Lofthouse 'What a spectacular triumph! Knowles has taken a reassuringly familiar legend and elevated it into a new, realistic and engrossing story' Sam Taw

Jason

The language of tap dancing is as rich and varied as that of any art, and different choreographers, teachers and performers often use totally different terms for exactly the same step. The various names of all steps and clear descriptions of them are collected for the first time in this reference work. The emphasis is on all variations of a name, from universally recognized terms to simple "pet" names that individual performers and choreographers have created, with extensive cross-references provided. Each of the steps is fully described, with appropriate counts, explanations and history. Many antique and unusual steps such as the Patting Juba, the Quack and the Swanee Shuffle are included. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

The Tap Dance Dictionary

The waltz, perhaps the most beloved social dance of the 19th and early 20th centuries, provoked outrage from religious leaders and other self-appointed arbiters of social morality. Decrying the corrupting influence of social dancing on decency and health, they failed to suppress the popularity of the waltz or other dance crazes of the period, such as the Charleston, the Tango, and Ragtime dances such as the Turkey Trot, Grizzly Bear, and Bunny Hug. This book investigates the development and importance of these popular dances with particular attention to the waltz, evaluating in particular how their very existence as "taboo" cultural fads led to initial outrage while ultimately providing a catalyst for lasting social reform. Focusing on couple dances of the 19th and early 20th centuries, it reveals how they expressed this tumultuous period and the shifting social attitudes of the day. In addition to examining the impact of the waltz craze on fashion, music, leisure, and social reform, the text describes the opposition to the dance and the proliferation of both anti-dance and courtesy literature. It then explores these same issues as they relate to other dance crazes of the early 1900s.

Outrage at Couple Dancing in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries

The Wicked Waltz and Other Scandalous Dances

Tracing the development of tap dancing from ancient India to the Broadway stage in 1903, when the word "Tap" was first used in publicity to describe this new American style of dance, this text separates the cultural, societal and historical events that influenced the development of Tap dancing. Section One covers primary influences such as Irish step dancing, English clog dancing and African dancing. Section Two covers theatrical influences (early theatrical developments, "Daddy" Rice, the Virginia Minstrels) and Section Three covers various other influences (Native American, German and Shaker). Also included are accounts of the people present at tap's inception and how various styles of dance were mixed to create a new art form.

The Early History of Tap Dancing

Tap Roots

The waltz, perhaps the most beloved social dance of the 19th and early 20th centuries, once provoked outrage from religious leaders and other self-appointed arbiters of social morality. Decrying the corrupting influence of social dancing, they failed to suppress the popularity of the waltz or other dance crazes of the period, including the Charleston, the tango, and “animal dances” such as the Turkey Trot, Grizzly Bear, and Bunny Hug. This book investigates the development of these popular dances, considering in particular how their very existence as “taboo” cultural fads ultimately provided a catalyst for lasting social reform. In addition to examining the impact of the waltz and other scandalous dances on fashion, music, leisure, and social reform, the text describes the opposition to dance and the proliferation of literature on both sides.

Mark Knowles

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