Martin Williams

'Eye-popping analysis of politicians' finances... a ground-breaking study... a fascinating and important work.' Sunday Times 'Immaculately researched... A powerful reminder that reporters can serve the public good... Should make journalists proud - and may even help to make the world a better place' Peter Oborne, New Statesman Who do our politicians work for? The public, or big business? If you want to understand why British politics isn't working, the first place to start is here. Parliament Ltd reveals the financial interests that British politicians would rather you didn't hear about. From banks and private corporations, to lobbying and the arms trade, there are MPs making millions by moonlighting in second jobs. Where does their loyalty belong - to us or to their paymasters? Meanwhile - years after the expenses scandal - they are now claiming more than ever before. In his enthralling journey to the dark heart of British politics, Martin Williams exposes a hidden, shocking culture of greed and corruption.

A Journey to the Dark Heart of British Politics

Parliament Ltd

The little-known history of how the Sahara was transformed from a green and fertile land into the largest hot desert in the world The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world, equal in size to China or the United States. Yet, this arid expanse was once a verdant, pleasant land, fed by rivers and lakes. The Sahara sustained abundant plant and animal life, such as Nile perch, turtles, crocodiles, and hippos, and attracted prehistoric hunters and herders. What transformed this land of lakes into a sea of sands? When the Sahara Was Green describes the remarkable history of Earth’s greatest desert—including why its climate changed, the impact this had on human populations, and how scientists uncovered the evidence for these extraordinary events. From the Sahara’s origins as savanna woodland and grassland to its current arid incarnation, Martin Williams takes us on a vivid journey through time. He describes how the desert’s ancient rocks were first fashioned, how dinosaurs roamed freely across the land, and how it was later covered in tall trees. Along the way, Williams addresses many questions: Why was the Sahara previously much wetter, and will it be so again? Did humans contribute to its desertification? What was the impact of extreme climatic episodes—such as prolonged droughts—upon the Sahara’s geology, ecology, and inhabitants? Williams also shows how plants, animals, and humans have adapted to the Sahara and what lessons we might learn for living in harmony with the harshest, driest conditions in an ever-changing global environment. A valuable look at how an iconic region has changed over millions of years, When the Sahara Was Green reveals the desert’s surprising past to reflect on its present, as well as its possible future.

How Our Greatest Desert Came to Be

When the Sahara Was Green

King Oliver

Although jazz is generally considered to be among America's important contributions to the arts, intelligent criticism in this field is very rare. Here, at last, is a collection of the best writing on the subject; an anthology that examines jazz as an art form worthy of serious consideration and treats such notable jazz musicians as King Oliver, Duke Ellington, Bix Beiderbecke, and Bessie Smith as artists in their own right. Much jazz reviewing has been biased, publicity-conscious, and hysterical. These, however, are critical articles of lasting value. They deal with every phase of jazz - from Ragtime to Bop, through Dixieland, the Blues, and Modern Jazz Quartet - in a manner which helps the enthusiast listen to jazz more intelligently and with a greater understanding. Written at various periods ranging from the first World War to the present day, the articles include Swiss conductor Ernest Ansermet's tribute to Sidney Bechet; Marshall Stearns discussing folk blues; and an analysis of Art Tatum by André Hodeir. There are also many illuminating descriptions of such great personalities as Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk, and Jelly Roll Morton. Aided by comments from Mr. Williams, these significant essays serve as the best possible introduction to a form of music which has influenced the Western cultural world for the past four decades. Martin T. Williams, a graduate of the universities of Pennsylvania and Virginia, is co-editor of The Jazz Review. He has been an instructor in English and the Humanities at Columbia College, and has contributed articles on music to The Record Changer, The Saturday Review, American Record Guide, and Downbeat.

Essays on the Nature and Development of Jazz

The Art of Jazz

The Hangman's Gate

Discusses how prehistoric humans responded to the environmental and climatic changes within the Nile Basin during the past million years.

Quaternary Geology, Geomorphology and Prehistoric Environments

The Nile Basin

Martin T. Williams

A collection of jazz articles written over a 30-year period, including narrative accounts of recording sessions, rehearsals and performances, liner notes, and profiles of musicians such as John Coltrane, Jelly Roll Morton, Billie Holliday and Thelonious Monk.

Jazz Changes

The prevalence of salvation language in the first letter of Peter has often been acknowledged though rarely investigated in depth. In this book Martin Williams presents an account exploring the concept of salvation in this theologically rich letter. He brings together the disciplines of hermeneutics, New Testament studies, and systematic and historical theology in order to explore the language of salvation which resonates within the text. The book also elaborates on a methodological level the segregation which has arisen between biblical studies and theological studies. In doing this, Williams identifies a basis for how there can be interaction between these two different viewpoints. This book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars interested in the exegesis and theology of 1 Peter, the doctrine of salvation and biblical interpretation.

The Doctrine of Salvation in the First Letter of Peter

Ray Allan

Contains notes and answers for each chapter, together with worksheets and tests intended for further practice, extension and assessment.

Summit Maths

A synthesis of the environmental and climatic history of every major desert and desert margin, for researchers and advanced students.

Climate Change in Deserts

In this book, the author describes in simple, non-technical terms the adventures he has experienced during his work as an earth scientist in some of the remote parts of the arid and semi-arid world. His aim in writing this concise account of some of the work he has been involved in over the past fifty years is to try to convey to the non-specialist some of the excitement and fun involved in fieldwork in the drier regions of the world. His studies of the soils, landforms and the recent geological history of arid and semi-arid regions have taken Martin Williams to some remarkable places in Africa, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Not only are the landscapes themselves often stunningly beautiful, but the contact with people from quite different backgrounds and cultures has been an enriching experience. His work has taken him to places far off the beaten track, whether it be the rugged mountains of Ethiopia and northern China, the sandy deserts of the Sahara and Rajasthan, or the great river valleys of Somalia, central India and the Nile. The chapters that follow are not intended to form a coherent chronological narrative, although they do appear in rough chronological order. They should rather be viewed as vignettes or brief evocative descriptions, much as in the discursive tradition of the wandering Irish storytellers. Acting on the principle that it is not necessary to be solemn to be serious, the author aims to entertain as well as to instruct.

Adventures of a Geomorphologist at Large

Nile Waters, Saharan Sands

Description I like to think of the Pearl Diver's Saliva as a fairly light piece of writing albeit that it deals with some fairly serious issues. It is primarily a work of fiction and follows the events in the life of Bill Evans as he takes early retirement. The characters in the story are entirely fictional, that having been said I have drawn heavily on the mental health service and its users to produce a piece of social drama. About the Author Martin Williams was born on the 4th December 1960 in Southampton. Particularly in his early years his family moved around a lot but finally he settled in Bristol where he took his exams at Bristol Grammar School. At the age of twenty one Martin was diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia and the next twenty years were spend in and out of hospital but at the turn of the century he had a major breakthrough when using a new medication completely transformed his life. Following that he attended Studio Upstairs in Bristol, a therapeutic Arts Community and began writing seriously.

The Pearl Diver’s Saliva

Reconstructing climatic changes in deserts and their margins at a variety of scales in space and time, this book draws upon evidence from land and sea, including desert dunes, wind-blown dust, river and lake sediments, glacial moraines, plant and animal fossils, isotope geochemistry, speleothems, soils, and prehistoric archaeology. The book summarises the Cenozoic evolution of the major deserts of the Americas, Eurasia, Africa and Australia, and the causes of historic floods and droughts. The book then considers the causes and consequences of desertification and proposes four key conditions for achieving ecologically sustainable use of natural resources in arid and semi-arid areas. Climate Change in Deserts is an invaluable reference for researchers and advanced students interested in the climate and geomorphology of deserts: geographers, geologists, ecologists, archaeologists, soil scientists, hydrologists, climatologists and natural resource managers.

Martin Williams

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