Seducing Augustine

Seducing Augustine PDF Author: Virginia Burrus
Publisher: Fordham Univ Press
ISBN: 0823231933
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 189

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Book Description
Augustine's Confessions is a text that seduces. But how often do its readers respond in kind? Here three scholars who share a longstanding fascination with sexuality and Christian discourse attempt to do just that. Where prior interpreters have been inclined either to defend or to criticize Augustine's views, Virginia Burrus, Mark Jordan, and Karmen MacKendrick set out both to seduce and to be seduced by his text. Often ambivalent but always passionately engaged, their readings of the Confessions center on four sets of intertwined themes--secrecy and confession, asceticism and eroticism, constraint and freedom, and time and eternity. Rather than expose Augustine's sexual history, they explore how the Confessions conjoins the erotic with the hidden, the imaginary, and the fictional. Rather than bemoan the repressiveness of his text, they uncover the complex relationship between seductive flesh and persuasive words that pervades all of its books. Rather than struggle to escape the control of the author, they embrace the painful pleasure of willed submission that lies at the erotic heart not only of the Confessions but also of Augustine's broader understanding of sin and salvation. Rather than mourn the fateful otherworldliness of his theological vision, they plumb the bottomless depths of beauty that Augustine discovers within creation, thereby extending desire precisely by refusing satisfaction. In unfolding their readings, the authors draw upon other works in Augustine's corpus while building on prior Augustinian scholarship in their own overlapping fields of history, theology, and philosophy. They also press well beyond the conventional boundaries of scholarly disciplines, conversing with such wide-ranging theorists of eroticism as Barthes, Baudrillard, Klossowski, Foucault, and Harpham. In the end, they offer not only a fresh interpretation of Augustine's famous work but also a multivocal literary-philosophical meditation on the seductive elusiveness of desire, bodies, language, and God.

Seducing Augustine

Seducing Augustine PDF Author: Virginia Burrus
Publisher: Fordham Univ Press
ISBN: 0823231933
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 189

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Book Description
Augustine's Confessions is a text that seduces. But how often do its readers respond in kind? Here three scholars who share a longstanding fascination with sexuality and Christian discourse attempt to do just that. Where prior interpreters have been inclined either to defend or to criticize Augustine's views, Virginia Burrus, Mark Jordan, and Karmen MacKendrick set out both to seduce and to be seduced by his text. Often ambivalent but always passionately engaged, their readings of the Confessions center on four sets of intertwined themes--secrecy and confession, asceticism and eroticism, constraint and freedom, and time and eternity. Rather than expose Augustine's sexual history, they explore how the Confessions conjoins the erotic with the hidden, the imaginary, and the fictional. Rather than bemoan the repressiveness of his text, they uncover the complex relationship between seductive flesh and persuasive words that pervades all of its books. Rather than struggle to escape the control of the author, they embrace the painful pleasure of willed submission that lies at the erotic heart not only of the Confessions but also of Augustine's broader understanding of sin and salvation. Rather than mourn the fateful otherworldliness of his theological vision, they plumb the bottomless depths of beauty that Augustine discovers within creation, thereby extending desire precisely by refusing satisfaction. In unfolding their readings, the authors draw upon other works in Augustine's corpus while building on prior Augustinian scholarship in their own overlapping fields of history, theology, and philosophy. They also press well beyond the conventional boundaries of scholarly disciplines, conversing with such wide-ranging theorists of eroticism as Barthes, Baudrillard, Klossowski, Foucault, and Harpham. In the end, they offer not only a fresh interpretation of Augustine's famous work but also a multivocal literary-philosophical meditation on the seductive elusiveness of desire, bodies, language, and God.

Secrets of Seduction

Secrets of Seduction PDF Author: Nicole Jordan
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345525329
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 354

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Book Description
Stunning sensuality and breathtaking romance mark this dazzling new Legendary Lovers tale from New York Times bestselling author Nicole Jordan, where an extraordinary beauty teaches a handsome, reclusive “beast” to love again. The most charming Wilde cousin, Lady Skye has secretly loved the enigmatic Earl of Hawkhurst since girlhood, long before the tragedy that left him scarred both physically and emotionally. When Skye learns that the celebrated hero has returned to England from his self-imposed exile to make a cold marriage of convenience, she brazenly plants herself on his castle doorstep, determined to convince Hawk that she alone is his true mate and destiny. An elite member of the Guardians of the Sword, Hawk has vowed never again to risk the pain of loving—but that’s before he deals with the most enchanting, annoyingly persistent seductress he’s ever encountered. One night of blazing passion leaves him impossibly torn. Will Hawk choose duty over love, or will he open his heart and let Skye’s healing light penetrate his darkness? Praise for Secrets of Seduction “[Nicole] Jordan delivers a powerful, moving romance with intense emotions, sexual tension and a few recurring characters. This is a marvelous, well-written love by a gifted storyteller.”—RT Book Reviews “I absolutely loved it! The characters were delightful, and their antics kept me laughing out loud and cheering for them! The story had so many unique twists and turns that I did not expect—it was like being on a sizzling hot roller coaster ride.”—Night Owl Reviews “Nicole Jordan writes a wondrous storyline of romance and love . . . Secrets of Seduction has a little bit of everything: humor, love, romance, betrayal, intrigue, suspense and heartbreak.”—The Reading Café “A great introduction to Nicole Jordan, a great twist on a classic tale, and enough to score her a spot on my permanent ‘Authors to Track’ list.”—The Lemon Review “Secrets of Seduction is one of the best books I’ve read this year. A classic feel good romance, you’ll love to read!”—Love Romance Passion “The narrative moves at a well-clipped pace with both an interesting mystery to solve and a gloomy castle to transform along with the Earl’s heart. These and the sizzling love scenes are bound to keep romance readers enchanted.”—Historical Novels Review “Humorous, seductive . . . Jordan has written a romantic love story with just the right amount of humor to make Secrets of Seduction a fun and enjoyable read.”—Fresh Fiction

Loving Jordan: The Complete Trilogy

Loving Jordan: The Complete Trilogy PDF Author: Andrea Dalling
Publisher: Artesian Well Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 356

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Book Description
A painful longing… Jordan knows his crush on Rick is hopeless. His football teammate and lifelong friend is straight. Now that they’re heading off to college in separate states, maybe Jordan can finally find a man who’ll return his feelings. He doesn’t know Rick’s secret: every time he’s with a girl, all he can think about is Jordan. A shattering encounter… Two weeks before they start their freshman year, the pair spend the weekend in a mountain cabin with a king-sized bed. Years of simmering desire hit the flash point, and Jordan can’t help falling in love with his best friend. But Rick struggles to accept the truth. He’s afraid of his parents’ disappointment, and as time passes, he only retreats deeper into the closet. A wrenching choice… Jordan can’t stop loving Rick, but he won’t live a lie. His ultimatum—come out, or we’re through—traps Rick between his all-American golden-boy image and the man who could be his everything. Will he risk it all to win Jordan’s love? This steamy gay romance trilogy is for a mature audience. It has a happy ending and no cliffhanger.

The Seduction

The Seduction PDF Author: Joanna Briscoe
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1408873516
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 385

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Book Description


Lord of Seduction

Lord of Seduction PDF Author: Nicole Jordan
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 034546785X
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
From the glitter of Regency London to a sun-kissed Mediterranean paradise, Nicole Jordan captivates with her breathtaking sensuality and unforgettable romance. No woman could tame him . . . until he met his match. With his reckless charm and lust for danger, Viscount Thorne is one of England’s most elusive bachelors–and member of a secret league of protectors known as the Guardians. To thwart his father’s matchmaking schemes, Thorne asks an alluring artist to pose as his betrothed. Burned once by desire, Diana Sheridan swears off love. But to secure her cousin’s place in society, she agrees to Thorne’s charade. Then scandal brews, and Thorne insists on going through with the marriage. When Diana refuses, wary of his smoldering passion, the rakish lord wages a dazzling campaign of seduction. Meanwhile, danger threatens their very lives. Yet Thorne realizes the greater danger is to his heart. For he never expected to get caught in a matrimonial snare of his own making–or imagined their pretense of a love match would become so tantalizingly real.

To Romance a Charming Rogue

To Romance a Charming Rogue PDF Author: Nicole Jordan
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 0345512839
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 402

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Book Description
The bold games of passion play out with delicious consequences in this fourth novel of Nicole Jordan’s seductive new series, The Courtship Wars. Two years ago, lively beauty Eleanor Pierce spied her dashing betrothed, Damon Stafford, Viscount Wrexham, with his former mistress and furiously ended their engagement. Now the charming rake is back in London, meddling in Eleanor’s affairs, bent on thwarting her new suitor. And when Damon’s intoxicating kisses rekindle her deepest longing, Eleanor loses her heart . . . again. But as she has no intention of allowing history to repeat itself, she embarks on a plan of tantalizing seduction, vowing to tame the rogue before she surrenders to his wicked, willful desires. Determined to stop another man from wooing and winning the woman he loves, Damon knows that claiming Eleanor’s heart is all that matters. But this scandalously bold beauty means to beat him at his own game of romance–a game he is ready and willing to lose.

The Art Of Seduction

The Art Of Seduction PDF Author: Robert Greene
Publisher: Profile Books
ISBN: 1847651402
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 496

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Book Description
Which sort of seducer could you be? Siren? Rake? Cold Coquette? Star? Comedian? Charismatic? Or Saint? This book will show you which. Charm, persuasion, the ability to create illusions: these are some of the many dazzling gifts of the Seducer, the compelling figure who is able to manipulate, mislead and give pleasure all at once. When raised to the level of art, seduction, an indirect and subtle form of power, has toppled empires, won elections and enslaved great minds. In this beautiful, sensually designed book, Greene unearths the two sides of seduction: the characters and the process. Discover who you, or your pursuer, most resembles. Learn, too, the pitfalls of the anti-Seducer. Immerse yourself in the twenty-four manoeuvres and strategies of the seductive process, the ritual by which a seducer gains mastery over their target. Understand how to 'Choose the Right Victim', 'Appear to Be an Object of Desire' and 'Confuse Desire and Reality'. In addition, Greene provides instruction on how to identify victims by type. Each fascinating character and each cunning tactic demonstrates a fundamental truth about who we are, and the targets we've become - or hope to win over. The Art of Seduction is an indispensable primer on the essence of one of history's greatest weapons and the ultimate power trip. From the internationally bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power, Mastery, and The 33 Strategies Of War.

A Little Seduction

A Little Seduction PDF Author: Penny Jordan
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 0373249861
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
Collects two of the author's previously published stories in which a little seduction goes a long way toward mending a broken heart.

Twin Seduction

Twin Seduction PDF Author: Cara Summers
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 1426835469
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 217

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Book Description
Jordan Ware has always had Wild West fantasies. But she's more Jimmy Choo than Tony Lama. Until her long-lost twin sister arrives… …and they switch places! Jordan heads to Santa Fe. And ends up bunking down with her twin's hunky fiancé! Cash Landry has never met a woman like Jordan. A whole heap of trouble has followed this city girl on her Western adventure. Still, Cash won't have any trouble protecting her. But can he convince her to ride into the sunset with him for good?

This Side of Jordan

This Side of Jordan PDF Author: Monte Schulz
Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
ISBN: 1606992961
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 321

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Book Description
A seductive novel of southern lyricism. Monte Schulz's prose novel opens in the spring of 1929, as the 19-year-old consumptive farm boy Alvin Pendergast attends an ill-fated dance marathon he's too sickly to participate in. After a year of his life has been stolen by a sanitarium, Alvin knows he's relapsing, and dreads not only the drudgery of his family's homestead, but a return to the hospital. In this state of mind, an invitation for a late-night slice of pie is too seductive to pass up and before he knows it, Alvin crosses the Mississippi River and finds himself working for a slick con artist named Chester Burke. Alvin is no match for Chester, who's not merely a con man, but a gangster from Chicago, following the bootleg liquor trade through the small towns of America's middle border. With Alvin in tow, Chester's insouciant disregard for life serves him well as he embarks upon a series of bank robberies and senseless murders. All summer long, Chester assumes the role of a dark angel on Judgment day, cleansing the scrolls of those whose sad fortune had drawn them across his path. Too ill to flee, too morally weak to object, Alvin resigns himself to what seems like certain doom somewhere down the road. Fortunately, Alvin finds another companion on his journey, a lonely, eccentric, and grandiloquent dwarf named Rascal, whose own infirmity binds his and the farm boy's destiny together. Drawn deeper and deeper into Chester's murderous frolic, they come across a curious assortment of characters, from small town businessmen and religious kooks to wayward girls and dance contestants, spiritualists and sideshow freaks. Caught between Chester's villainy and Alvin's own physical deterioration, the young farm boy must make a decision: stick with Chester, who would surely kill him at the slightest hint of betrayal, or muster the courage to stake his life on faith in Rascal's clever plan to save them both. Tired of being afraid, Alvin finally grasps the need not only to outwit the gangster but to find another road to travel. What he discovers about the meaning of home offers a solution to escape and freedom. This Side of Jordan is a thoroughly American novel told in the voice of a lost generation hurtling toward the Great Depression, and evokes a long ago America of crowded Main Streets and tourist camps, miles of cornfields, rural church¬es, and musty parlors. It ends on the fairgrounds of a traveling wagon circus that beckons gangster, farm boy, and dwarf toward a startling resolution, and a hard-fought absolution for the two young, frightened collaborators. The narrative of this novel has the momentum of a freight train, but told in the seductive, rhythmic tradition of Southern lyricism reminiscent of Flannery O'Connor and Truman Capote, and filled with vivid, outsized literary characters. If Jim Thompson and Carson McCullers went on a collaborative bender by kidnapping Holden Caulfield, Perry Smith, and Ignatius J. Reilly, they'd have come up with something like This Side of Jordan.