Fantasy, legal biography, baroque music and study essentials all feature in this month's new alumni-authored books. 1. Author Amanda Cooke Degree PhD Law Book Pensions and legal policy: Lessons on the shift from public to private This monograph explores the historical position of pensions law in the UK and the recent influences which have led to the introduction of Auto-Enrolment and subsequent reforms. Alternative models, such as the US and Australia, are also considered as well as the function of law in bringing about political changes. Pensions and legal policy: Lessons on the shift from public to private 2. Author Rachael Durkin Degree PhD Quantitative Genetics Books The Viola d’Amore: Its History and Development This book provides the first scholarly history of the viola d’amore, a popular bowed string instrument of the Baroque era, with a unique tone produced by a set of metal sympathetic strings. Composers like Bach made use of the viola d’amore for its particular sound, but the instrument subsequently fell out of fashion amid orchestral standardisation, only to see a revival as interest in early music and historical performance grew. The Viola d’Amore: Its History and Development 3. Author Hannah Foley Degree Illustration Books The Spellbinding Secret of Avery Buckle Part-girl, part-cat, Avery Buckle has always known she's a little different (after all, her tail is a bit of a giveaway). What Avery doesn't know is that she is the only one who can uncover a forgotten magical secret and bring back a great lost wizard. Teaming up with shape-shifting best friend Low, and with help from her witch guardians, Avery is plunged into a haphazard world of shadowy monsters, bewitched libraries and flying bicycles. Grab your enchanted tandem bike and hold on tight! Wildly inventive and packed with fantastical thrills, The Spellbinding Secret of Avery Buckle is a warm and quirky whirlwind of an adventure, full of magical heart. The Spellbinding Secret of Avery Buckle Hannah's alumni profile 4. Author William Gilmore Degree Law Books The Confederate Jurist : The Legal Life of Judah P Benjamin This is the first biography written from a legal perspective on the public life of Judah P. Benjamin (1811–1884); a prominent figure in the common law world in the 19th century. It charts his rise as a lawyer first in the mixed legal system of Louisiana and then nationally. In 1853 he was the first person of Jewish heritage to be offered nomination to the US Supreme Court – an honour he declined. Benjamin was also a member of the US Senate, a slave owner and a supporter of Southern secession. In the Civil War he served continuously in the Confederate Cabinet initially as Attorney General, then as Secretary of War and finally as Secretary of State. Following the victory of the Union he fled America, a fugitive. In political exile in England, he requalified as a Barrister at Lincoln’s Inn. Within a decade he had written a scholarly and long-enduring treatise on commercial law and become the undisputed advocate of choice in appeals before the House of Lords and the Privy Council. This book considers the extraordinary career of this distinguished though controversial jurist and reflects upon his legal legacy. The Confederate Jurist : The Legal Life of Judah P Benjamin 5. Author Sarah Birrell Ivory Degree MSc Business and Climate Change, PhD Corporate Sustainability Books Becoming a Critical Thinker: for your university studies and beyond The only critical thinking skills book to include advice and insights from practitioners across a range of industries - including banking, law, media, medicine, and creative organizations - to demonstrate why critical thinking is an essential skill in today's workplace. Includes unique interviews with students from a range of universities, offering reassurance and guidance on how to tackle reading lists, voice ideas or questions in groups, and listen actively, from those who have first-hand experience. Becoming a Critical Thinker: for your university studies and beyond Submit your book If you are a member of the alumni community and have recently published a book, we would be delighted to include it in the Alumni Bookshelf. Email the editor, Brian Campbell, with the following information: your name degree details book details, including a link for further information Email Brian Campbell Please note Books are added to the bookshelf in order of submission. All of the further information links listed are the external websites of the book publisher, the author, or the bookseller. The University of Edinburgh is not responsible for the content and functionality of these sites. We reserve the right to not publish all submissions we receive. This article was published on 2024-10-28
