Elaine Morgan

'One of the key feminist texts' Guardian The Descent of Woman is a pioneering work, the first to argue for the equal role of women in human evolution. On its first publication in 1972 it sparked an international debate and became a rallying-point for feminism, changing the terminology of anthropologists forever. Starting with her demolition of the Biblical myth that woman was an afterthought to the creation of man, Elaine Morgan rewrites human history and evolution.

Why do humans differ from other primates? What do those differences tell us about human evolution? Elaine Morgan gives a revolutionary hypothesis that explains our anatomic anomalies: why we walk on two legs, why we are covered in fat, why we can control our rate of breathing? The answers point to one conclusion: millions of years ago our ancestors were trapped in a semi-aquatic environment. In presenting her case Elaine Morgan forces scientists to question accepted theories of human evolution.

- Have you ever holidayed in France and marvelled at the food ? - Do you have memories of being served delicious and attractive aperitifs in your "chambre d'h tes" (B&B) or hotel ? - Did you press your nose to the window of the patisseries in admiration ? - Wandering around the traditional French markets did you wonder what the French housewives do with the mountains of beautiful fresh produce on display ? - Would you like to try some recipes from a French cookery school ? If you answer YES to one or more of these questions, then this book is for you. Our intention is to acknowledge the traditions of France, past and present, and include some recipes handed down the generations, together with contemporary dishes. These are the recipes we cook for our families and friends, trying always to incorporate the fruits, vegetables and herbs we have at hand. The golden rule of our cooking is to use fresh, seasonal and the most local produce we can find. As we both grow some of our own fruits and vegetables we use these whenever possible. Our aim is to offer all English speaking francophiles and lovers of good food the chance to make and experience attractive and nutrionally balanced French dishes using easily obtainable ingredients and a minimum of special equipment.

Herod sends his soldiers to slaughter the innocents and Rachel's son is slain. Finding an officer in the stable she determines to kill him. Then a soldier enters. Revolted by his orders, he had mutinously attacked the officer. His rough, kindly wisdom overcomes Rachel's hysteria. Wearily she leans against the manger and suddenly all bitterness is drained from her, and in its place is charity.-1 woman, 3 men

This is the first of the two-volume set of the Southeast Asia Cruising Guide to reach a second edition. It is the only guide that covers the entire length and breadth of a region frequently visited by round-the-world sailors, many of whom leave Australia to head west. This edition concentrates on the most frequented routes and includes the most popular stops. There are hundreds of possible anchorages, the most popular of which are usefully summarised in tables. Introductory sections cover planning and the last part of the book deals with more general topics including advice on provisioning and the problems that are often faced by cruisers. Stephen Morgan and Elaine Davies first arrived in the region over 30 years ago. They work in Hong Kong; Stephen Davies as Director of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum and Elaine Morgan as a writer and editor. While this pilot is aimed at yachtsmen and indeed was surveyed from the Davies/Morgan yacht, it is just as relevant to the commercial or military mariner. The part of the world described in this work is one of the most interesting on our planet. Culturally, scenically, climatically and commercially; it has everything. This excellent book - now in its second edition, describes it all very enticingly. Set to the usual high standard of the Imray pilots that precede it, this one is spiced up by the wit and anecdotes the authors are so good at.

When Elaine Morgan wrote The Descent of Woman in 1972, it sent shock waves around the world, and is now widely regarded as a key work on human evolution, and essential to any discussion of women's place in society. Now, with The Scars of Evolution, Morgan offers a pioneering look just where it was our earliest ancestors came from, and the legacy--not always advantageous--that they left us. As she sets out to solve one of the enduring riddles of our origins--to discover the evolutionary path that separated us from the rest of the animals--Morgan shows that many of the theories currently accepted by scientists cannot explain our unique features: they leave too many questions unanswered. Millions of years ago, something happened to our ape ancestors that did not happen to the forebears of gorillas and chimpanzees, something that made them walk on two legs, lose their fur, sweat, develop larger brains, and learn to speak. While scientists have visited many a dig and studied many a fossil for clues, Elaine Morgan argues that all of the facts about our mysterious origins are right in front of us--in the form of fundamental flaws in the human design. Our propensity to suffer from lower back pain, obesity, varicose veins, acne, even infant death syndrome, is essentially the result of a cataclysmic event in our distant past. Scientists have long observed that our spines were not made for upright walking. Yet natural selection--the basic tenet of evolutionary theory--dictates that enduring changes to a species occur because of the need to adapt to changes in the environment. While thousands of working hours are lost each year to "bad backs," at some point long ago it must have been an advantage to walk on two legs. The most common theory is that we became bipedal while hunting on the African savannah, needing our arms free for weapons, using an upright stance to see enemies from afar. But as Morgan points out, animals need more speed on the savannah, both for pursuit and flight, than two legs can offer. Her explanation: bipedalism emerged from life in an aquatic environment due to the flooding of the African rift valley millennia ago. The apes that suddenly found themselves stranded in swamp land (a swamp that remained for thousands of years) had to walk upright to keep from drowning. The human tendency toward obesity was once not an unsightly health problem, but rather a lifesaving form of insulation, one present in all aquatic mammals. And as Morgan carefully considers all of our other uniquely human traits--our relative hairlessness, our ability to control our breathing, our inability to maintain proper salt levels--a compelling case emerges for our human origins in a watery environment. Lively, controversial, and presented with a brilliant logic, The Scars of Evolution will change the way you think about the world--and our place in it.