{"title":"D. Vance Smith","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the captivating world of D. Vance Smith, an author renowned for his deep exploration of Arts \u0026amp; Culture through his literary works. With a keen intellect and a scholarly approach, Smith offers readers a unique lens into the intricate interplay of history, culture, and literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the standout works in this collection is \u003cem\u003eAtlas's Bones\u003c\/em\u003e, a book that blends scholarly insight with accessible prose to invite readers into a thoughtful examination of cultural narratives. This piece, along with others in Smith's oeuvre, is crafted with precision and offers a rich tapestry of information for those fascinated by the undercurrents of civilisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor readers eager to delve into a world where arts and culture converge, D. Vance Smith's works are an invaluable addition to any collection. His writings not only inform but also inspire conversations about the world around us. Explore his thought-provoking books today and embark on a journey of cultural discovery.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"atlass-bones-by-d-vance-smith-9780226830308","title":"Atlas's Bones","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA major new look at Africa's influence on European culture and how colonisation remade Africa in the image of a medieval Europe.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eVirgil. Chaucer. Petrarch. These names resonate with many as cornerstones of European culture. Yet, in \u003cem\u003eAtlas's Bones\u003c\/em\u003e, D. Vance Smith reveals that much of what is claimed as European culture up to the Middle Ages—its great themes in literature, its sources in political thought, its religious beliefs—originated in the writings of African thinkers like Augustine, Fulgentius, and Martianus Capella, or Europeans who thought extensively about Africa. In fact, a third of Virgil's \u003cem\u003eAeneid\u003c\/em\u003e takes place in Africa. Francis Petrarch believed his most important achievement was his epic \u003cem\u003eAfrica\u003c\/em\u003e; while Geoffrey Chaucer wrote repeatedly about the figures of Scipio Africanus, actually two different men who defeated and destroyed Carthage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSmith tells the story of how Europe created a false \"medieval\" version of Africa to acquire resources and power during the era of imperialism and colonialism. The first half of the book, \"Reading Africa,\" traces Egypt's, Libya's, and Carthage's influence on classical and medieval thinking about Africa, highlighting often ignored literary and legendary traditions, for example, that Alexander the Great named himself the son of an African god. The second part, \"Writing Africa,\" focuses on how the different cultures of the two great African cities—Carthage and Alexandria—shaped modern literary criticism and political theology and examines the cross-influences of modern anthropology, medieval studies, and colonial law.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAtlas's Bones\u003c\/em\u003e firmly re-establishes the significance of Africa in European intellectual history. It will be essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how much of Africa informs our artistic and cultural world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47031778312428,"sku":"9780226830308","price":115.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/20531363482268.jpg?v=1764146778"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/d-vance-smith.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}