Brian Jackson

Love, jealousy and ambition and despair; the underlying themes in 'The Unacceptable Face' - Brian Jackson's major new novel in a story that addresses the unacceptable face of abuse. And not just domestic violence but the insidious abuse hidden in the workplace. The story tells of two friends, Helen and Rita whose lives continually criss-cross and overlap. Helen, fulfilled and happy in her marriage to Eric, an ambitious dreamer who is restless in pursuit of career and success; and Rita lurching from one unhappy relationship to another. But Helen is helpless to intervene as she watches Rita's relationships, beginning with Rob, a good looking and romantic charmer but in reality a weak, feckless womaniser beginning to fail. For it isn't long before Rob's gambling begins to ruin their life with debt, culminating in Rob facing charges of theft and imprisonment. And then, on the re-bound Rita meets Gerry and falls for him. They set up home together and at first all appears well and Helen together with their other friends rejoice to see Rita happy at last. But beneath the charm and courtesies Gerry is eventually revealed as a manipulative, violent brute... And meanwhile, after an uncertain start Eric's career has begun to prosper; with growing confidence he begins to rise above his origins and all Helen's dreams begin to be fulfilled with an enviable home and holidays in romantic locations. But a dark shadow enters their lives and when Helen's baby is stillborn their happiness is threatened and the trauma is heightened when Rita, under the malign influence of Gerry abandons her own children. Helen severs her friendship with Rita until the death of Helen's beloved father leads to the reconciliation of the two friends. But their renewed friendship is brief for Eric has taken on additional responsibilities in Scotland. And then, on the eve of their departure the extent of Gerry's abuse of Rita is eventually revealed. Before long however events begin take an unexpected turn in Helen's life. At the peak of his success Eric's career stalls and he finds himself isolated amongst his colleagues. As his professional world begins to collapse relentlessly in on him Eric tries to hide the emotional turmoil he is struggling with and Helen, loyal in her support remains unaware of the hidden tragedy looming in Eric's life. For her concern is for her friend Rita, still living in a relationship that has spiralled into violence and the neglect of her children. Until Helen begins to recognise the changes in Eric as he tries to confront the insidious power of the abuse he is being subjected to. His thoughts turn to murder and Helen is faced with the unthinkable as she desperately searches for the reasons to explain the final tragedy in their relationship. A 400 page saga spanning twenty years in the lives of two young women and their friends, 'The Unacceptable Face' exposes the secret misery so often endured behind the facade of success in modern life.

'The Tears of Autumn' is a bittersweet love story that begins in the war and ends leaving the child David struggling to cope with the failures of the adult world around him. When Bill is called up by the RAF Daisy is left with the infant David. Living in squalor with their unwanted child Daisy seeks consolation with other men until the dreadful night when Bill returns unexpectedly and finds her with another man and David filthy and neglected. In an emotional parting David is torn from his mother and sent away to stay with an aunt. They are idyllic days but with the end of the war Bill returns to reclaim his son. Now their search begins; a search for love, happiness and security and when Bill meets Dorothy it seems their odyssey is over. But their love for Dorothy brings other conflicts in the wake of a tragedy neither of them could have foreseen as she descends into insanity. David attempts to escape to find the security and love he seeks with his aunt but he fails. Powerful images continue to haunt him until he is forced to confront the final tragedy in this powerful family saga. Based on true events 'The Tears of Autumn' is the story of a child growing up in a world where the adults around him are struggling to cope with their lives, unaware of the trauma they blindly inflict on the child in their midst.

"Superbly done ... should be high on everyone's 'must have' list." --Rock and Gem Agates, the first popular guide to the brilliantly banded and highly prized gemstones, sold 7,000 copies in hardcover, no doubt for the glorious color photographs that capture collectors' enthusiasm for the stones' distinctive shapes and vivid colors. Agates is a comprehensive, easy-to-use identification guide and a worldwide listing of where they are found. The book describes: Names of agates--mineralogical, geological, local, trade, trivial Properties of agates--e.g., color, wall-banded, level-banded, cracked, thunder eggs Sources of agates--e.g., eruptions, lava, sediment, limestone beds, and fissures Lapidary--sawing, grinding, sanding, polishing Imitations and forgeries of agates Uses of agates through the ages, with beautiful photographs of artifacts and jewelry Early writing and collections Use of agates in science and technology Collecting National and regional maps showing agate-producing areas. Amateur gemologists and agate collectors alike will find this informative and beautifully illustrated book to be an indispensable resource.

First published in 1981, this book reassesses the case of Sacco and Vanzetti, two Italian immigrant anarchists living in Boston in 1920. The pair were accused of a payroll robbery and the murder of two guards for which they were arrested and, after a long trial based on inadequate and prejudiced evidence, executed in 1927. In 1977, on the fiftieth anniversary of their deaths, the Commonwealth of Massachusettes issued a proclamation which acknowledged a miscarriage of justice. The Black Flag provides an account of the controversial trial and a re-evaluation of the celebrated case of the Commonwealth’s decision. Brian Jackson puts the trial in the social context of the period and exposes the nature of anarchism by looking at the lives of two of its exponents, resulting in a moving exploration of a series of events that continue to trouble the conscience of America.

First published in 1979, this book considers the culture of a multi-racial community through the eyes of six children about to start school. Each child is from a different background but all live in the same street in a town in the north of England. Following the children from home into school, their six separate lives are unveiled, illustrating the manner in which their six separate worlds are in some ways grounded in their own respective cultures, and in others interwoven with the common experience of school. These Children enter school in search of a multi-cultural society, and a sympathetic appraisal is made of what happens to them as they face such initially daunting prospects as the classroom, television and the playground. The most compelling element in this book is the way in which education is shown to be able to derive benefit from this cultural diversity. The research was commissioned by the Social Sciences Research Council and the Leverhulme Trust, and will be of particular interest to those working in social work and education.

First published in 1979, this book looks at the subject of childminding in Britain at the time it was written. It is based on a national survey that was commissioned by the Social Science Research Council and on action to help childminders funded by the Wates Foundation at Manchester University, UK. Previous to this study it was calculated that more than one million children under the age of five had a working mother, but little research had been done into childminders themselves. This book evaluates the number and nature of the childminders in Britain that were looking after the nation’s children in the 70s. It argues that parents have a right to choose to work if society can guarantee loving and skilled care for their children. However, the authors suggest that this was not the case at the time and state that childminders were in need of better governmental support.

In this volume a streamed school is studied in detail and parents’ responses are recorded. Eleven plus is (and has been) under criticism, but many children are selected by a ‘seven plus’ because they are streamed into A, B or C classes. Few children escape the label once it is pinned on them – less than six in one hundred change their stream. The study shows that on a national sample the date on which a child is born – irrespective of his ability – affects his or her stream at the age of 7 and his results at eleven plus. Finally ten streamed schools are compared, academically and socially, with ten unstreamed schools. In the final chapters the author makes practical proposals by which primary schools could recognise and increase the flow of gifted children.

Was it murder? No-one could say but Michael is haunted by remorse as he tries to purge himself of shame. Until a chance acquaintance awakens deeper memories. Drawn into a confrontation with his past Michael is forced to re-live a terrifying decision as he faces the catastrophic consequences of love and the death of his friend.

When first published this book had a significant influence on the campaign for comprehensive schools and it spoke to generations of working-class students who were either deterred by the class barriers erected by selective schools and elite universities, or, having broken through them to gain university entry, found themselves at sea. The authors admit at the end of the book they have raised and failed to answer many questions, and in spite of the disappearance of the majority of grammar schools, many of those questions still remain unanswered.

First published in 1998. This is Volume XXI, the final of the twenty-one in the Race, Class and Social Structure series and takes as its subject the general notions raised by a series of studies of working class communities in Yorkshire in Northern England. This book is an attempt to exemplify why these voices matter, why we should hear them. They are all working-class voices. Following their leads, the author seeks a dozen ways to define the qualities, good or bad, of working-class life: the styles of living that it offers us.

First published in 1979, this book looks at the subject of childminding in Britain at the time it was written. It is based on a national survey that was commissioned by the Social Science Research Council and on action to help childminders funded by the Wates Foundation at Manchester University, UK. Previous to this study it was calculated that more than one million children under the age of five had a working mother, but little research had been done into childminders themselves. This book evaluates the number and nature of the childminders in Britain that were looking after the nation’s children in the 70s. It argues that parents have a right to choose to work if society can guarantee loving and skilled care for their children. However, the authors suggest that this was not the case at the time and state that childminders were in need of better governmental support.

First published in 1979, this book considers the culture of a multi-racial community through the eyes of six children about to start school. Each child is from a different background but all live in the same street in a town in the north of England. Following the children from home into school, their six separate lives are unveiled, illustrating the manner in which their six separate worlds are in some ways grounded in their own respective cultures, and in others interwoven with the common experience of school. These Children enter school in search of a multi-cultural society, and a sympathetic appraisal is made of what happens to them as they face such initially daunting prospects as the classroom, television and the playground. The most compelling element in this book is the way in which education is shown to be able to derive benefit from this cultural diversity. The research was commissioned by the Social Sciences Research Council and the Leverhulme Trust, and will be of particular interest to those working in social work and education.

First published in 1984, this groundbreaking title explores the concept of fatherhood, by following a hundred men who become fathers for the first time. The book is addressed to men who are discovering fatherhood and to women who wish to hear what a man feels and thinks about having a child. Many men experience the strange problems of the male couvade. They have everything from mysterious back ache to inexplicable stomach pains. Later they frequently find that the white-coated professionals shut the door on their doubts and needs and their shy search for information. Brian Jackson’s book cautiously explores changing attitudes to fatherhood emerging at the time of the book’s initial publication. In recent years we have gone through a unique revolution in man’s experience of woman and child. There is surprise at the costs and demands of parenthood, so much so that both parents may move from a honeymoon phase of parenthood into the birth of the blues. Previously this has been thought of as a female, hormonal readjustment, but since men speak of identical symptoms, this study suggests that, at the roots, lies the strain of unprepared parenthood. The traditional father is still there – showing off his medals, his tattoos, his rugby triumphs and his unconcern for the gentler aspects of life. So is the man who simply hunts in the economic jungle, and expects his home to service him. But most of these men now waver and hedge their bets. They look at their child as they return from their working day, or as they slump into unemployment, and wonder if they could be more positive, more creative, more licensed to care.

First published in 1981, this book reassesses the case of Sacco and Vanzetti, two Italian immigrant anarchists living in Boston in 1920. The pair were accused of a payroll robbery and the murder of two guards for which they were arrested and, after a long trial based on inadequate and prejudiced evidence, executed in 1927. In 1977, on the fiftieth anniversary of their deaths, the Commonwealth of Massachusettes issued a proclamation which acknowledged a miscarriage of justice. The Black Flag provides an account of the controversial trial and a re-evaluation of the celebrated case of the Commonwealth’s decision. Brian Jackson puts the trial in the social context of the period and exposes the nature of anarchism by looking at the lives of two of its exponents, resulting in a moving exploration of a series of events that continue to trouble the conscience of America.

"God calls you to a life of servanthood as a disciple of Jesus Christ. ... Lay Servant Ministries is the first step for many laypersons toward their faith journey as they strive for a closer relationship with the Lord," the authors write in the introduction. The Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course is a foundational course designed to equip new church leaders and renew current leaders in The United Methodist Church. It explores personal spiritual gifts servant leadership each leader's role in developing future leaders the importance of consistent spiritual practices the core ministries of Leading, Caring, and Communicating and much more. The Basic Course can be used for both adults and youth. Consisting of five two-hour sessions, it may serve as a short-term study for small groups, Sunday school classes, and new member classes. NOTE: This book replaces the Lay Speaking Ministries Basic Course, DR551. The Leader's Guide is also available here.

First published in 1984, this groundbreaking title explores the concept of fatherhood, by following a hundred men who become fathers for the first time. The book is addressed to men who are discovering fatherhood and to women who wish to hear what a man feels and thinks about having a child. Many men experience the strange problems of the male couvade. They have everything from mysterious back ache to inexplicable stomach pains. Later they frequently find that the white-coated professionals shut the door on their doubts and needs and their shy search for information. Brian Jackson’s book cautiously explores changing attitudes to fatherhood emerging at the time of the book’s initial publication. In recent years we have gone through a unique revolution in man’s experience of woman and child. There is surprise at the costs and demands of parenthood, so much so that both parents may move from a honeymoon phase of parenthood into the birth of the blues. Previously this has been thought of as a female, hormonal readjustment, but since men speak of identical symptoms, this study suggests that, at the roots, lies the strain of unprepared parenthood. The traditional father is still there – showing off his medals, his tattoos, his rugby triumphs and his unconcern for the gentler aspects of life. So is the man who simply hunts in the economic jungle, and expects his home to service him. But most of these men now waver and hedge their bets. They look at their child as they return from their working day, or as they slump into unemployment, and wonder if they could be more positive, more creative, more licensed to care.

In this volume a streamed school is studied in detail and parents’ responses are recorded. Eleven plus is (and has been) under criticism, but many children are selected by a ‘seven plus’ because they are streamed into A, B or C classes. Few children escape the label once it is pinned on them – less than six in one hundred change their stream. The study shows that on a national sample the date on which a child is born – irrespective of his ability – affects his or her stream at the age of 7 and his results at eleven plus. Finally ten streamed schools are compared, academically and socially, with ten unstreamed schools. In the final chapters the author makes practical proposals by which primary schools could recognise and increase the flow of gifted children.

When first published this book had a significant influence on the campaign for comprehensive schools and it spoke to generations of working-class students who were either deterred by the class barriers erected by selective schools and elite universities, or, having broken through them to gain university entry, found themselves at sea. The authors admit at the end of the book they have raised and failed to answer many questions, and in spite of the disappearance of the majority of grammar schools, many of those questions still remain unanswered.