A.S. Byatt (1936) has become known world-wide for her award-winning novel Possession (1990). This thrilling story of romance and literary detection, spanning the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, has prompted a widespread reappraisal of Byatt's entire oeuvre throughout Europe, the United States, and elsewhere, where she is often read in translation. Richard Todd's assessment of Byatt's literary identity treats the entire range of her writing from her earliest novels and essays to the present. Topics covered include Byatt's conviction that all her writing forms part of one activity along with her astonishing range of reading; her fictional treatment of families and biographers; her belief that her characters must be portrayed as thinking being profoundly affected by joy and loss; her interest in writing about painting; and her articulately-held belief on matters such as religion and philosophy, metaphor and fairy tale.

Actor Richard Todd presents this documentary on the iconic Elstree Studios, where many classic English films were made between 1927 and the programme's recording in the 1950s. As well as relating the history of the studios, situated near the towns of Borehamwood and Elstree in Hertfordshire, the documentary features footage from over 40 films made there, including the first feature film produced in the studios, 'The White Sheik' (1927), and Alfred Hitchcock's 'Blackmail' (1929).

Bob can't believe his luck. Why Ellie is interested in him he neither knows nor cares. Sure, Vinny scares the hell out of him, but Ellie only works for Vinny and the thing he has with her, well it's nothing serious. After all, his wife and kids will never know and his friends will turn a blind eye. His behaviour may be bad but it's not as if anyone's going to get hurt. But soon Bob finds that he has more to worry about than just Vinny. There's his crazy brother Benny and his pal Jimmy who's just finished a five stretch. Then there's the cop Murray nosing around, and Joe who's drinking and talking too much. Before he knows it Bob's in so deep he can't see a way out. Not until Vinny offers him one which just might solve all of his problems. Maybe. Or maybe it'll just be the start of them.

6-movie collection of Hitchcock classics features.

North By Northwest:
North By Northwest is a suspense thriller that finds Cary Grant in the role of Roger Thornhill, a Manhattan advertising executive mistaken for a spy. Considered by many to be the prototypical pure action movie (creating the template for later James Bond and Indiana Jones films), the film is a cross-country roller-coaster ride with Alfred Hitchcock at the helm. The film is duly famous for several classic and indelible scenes, including the desert biplane encounter and the Mt. Rushmore climax.

The Wrong Man:
Hitchcock movie starring Henry Fonda and Vera Miles. Manny Ballestero is an honest hardworking musician at New York's Stork Club. When his wife needs money for dental treatment, Manny goes to the local insurance office to borrow on her policy. Employees at the office mistake him for a hold-up man who robbed them the year before and the police are called. The film tells the true story of what happened to Manny and his family.

Dial M For Murder:
Classic Hitchcock movie starring Grace Kelly and Ray Milland. Ex-tennis pro Tony Wendice decides to murder his wife for her money and because she had an affair the year before. He blackmails an old college associate to strangle her, but when things go wrong he sees a way to turn events to his advantage.

I Confess:
Hitchcock movie starring Montgomery Clift and Anne Baxter. Otto Kellar and his wife Alma work as caretaker and housekeeper at a Catholic church in Quebec. Whilst robbing a house where he sometimes works as a gardener, Otto is caught and kills the owner. Racked with guilt he heads back to the church where Father Michael Logan is working late. Otto confesses his crime, but when the police begin to suspect Father Logan he cannot reveal what he has been told in the confession.

Strangers On A Train:
Based on the Patricia Highsmith novel, Strangers On A Train quickly became one of Alfred Hitchcock's most successful thrillers and remains one of his most popular films. En route from Washington, D.C., champion tennis player Guy Haines (Farley Granger) meets pushy playboy Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker). What begins as a chance encounter turns into a series of morbid confrontations, as Bruno manipulates his way into Guy's life. Bruno is eager to kill his father and knows Guy wants to marry a senator's daughter (Ruth Roman) but cannot get a divorce from his wife, Miriam (Laura Elliot). So Bruno suggests the men swap murders, which would leave no traceable clues or possible motives. Though Guy refuses, it will not be so easy to rid himself of the psychopathic Bruno. The film is tightly paced and disturbing from beginning to end, an effect heightened by Hitchcock's inventive camera work, including a terrifying sequence shot through a pair of eyeglasses that have been knocked to the ground.

Stage Fright:
Hitchcock movie starring Jane Wyman and Marlene Dietrich. Jonathan Cooper is wanted by the police who suspect him of killing his lover's husband. His friend Eve Gill offers to hide him and Jonathan explains to her that his lover, actress Charlotte Inwood is the real murderer. Eve decides to investigate for herself, but when she meets the detective in charge of the case, she starts to fall in love.

Vincent Sherman directs this 1940s drama starring Richard Todd, Ronald Reagan and Patricia Neal. The film is set in Burma following the end of the war in 1945. Life is tough for a group of soldiers with injuries too severe to travel back home to enjoy the victory celebrations with their friends and comrades. Under the care of Sister Margaret Parker (Neal), the multinational soldiers who go by the nicknames Yank (Reagan), Kiwi (Ralph Michael), Tommy (Howard Marion Crawford) and Digger (John Sherman) are recuperating in a Burmese hospital. Recalcitrant Scotsman Corporal Lachlan (Todd) joins them in a particularly tragic position: he has only weeks to live due to a kidney problem. The others try to cheer him up, but struggle to penetrate his steely facade. Will Lachlan makes some friends at last or will he die alone and bitter?

Robert Lynn directs this 1960s adventure based on the story by Edgar Wallace and starring Richard Todd and Dale Robertson. Todd assumes the role of Inspector Harry Sanders, an insurance company employee who travels to Africa with Texan entrepreneur A.J. Magnus (Robertson) to investigate mysterious activity along the coast where Magnus sources diamonds. Sanders is well acquainted with Africa, having experienced numerous adventures on the continent in the past, and it isn't long before he and Magnus are drawn into another adventure.

Cyril Frankel directs this 1960s British comedy following the misadventures of a womanising travel agent played by Richard Todd. When Bill Ferguson (Todd) loses the key to his flat a friend of his, recognising his wayward nature, presents him with a number of different keys so that he will never be without one again. However, while on his travels Bill begins handing out the keys to a number of beautiful women he meets - a ploy that may come back to haunt him when the women begin descending on his residence in the build up to his wedding. Elke Sommer, June Thorburn and John Le Mesurier also star.

A British and an American soldier (Robert Taylor and Richard Todd), both in love with the same woman (Dana Wynter), are travelling to Normandy in 1944. Aware of the dangers of the impending invasion, they stave off fear by reminiscing about their romances.

Triple bill of WWII movies. In 'Against the Wind' (1947), at the height of the war, a group of men and women are gathered together in London to be trained as spies. However, there is a traitor in their midst. 'The Dam Busters' (1954), adapted from the book by Paul Brickhill, is based on the true story of Dr Barnes Wallis (Michael Redgrave), whose invention of the 'Bouncing Bomb' is greeted with much scepticism. However, RAF Wing Commander Guy Gibson proves the bomb's worth in a daring mission to destroy the German Ruhr Dams. The film also stars Richard Todd and Ursula Jeans. Docu-drama 'The Colditz Story' (1954), adapted from the book by P.R. Reid, stars John Mills, Eric Portman and Lionel Jeffries, and re-tells the experiences of Allied prisoners-of-war who were held in Colditz Castle. These POWs were strictly monitored as they were a high risk category and had constantly tried to escape whichever prison they where previously placed in. Despite being outnumbered by their guards, the prisoners of Colditz continued to achieve their goal - freedom.

Re-enactment of the events surrounding the voyage in April 1949 of the Royal Navy frigate Amethyst along the Yangtse river, and the attempts of its crew to get vital supplies to a British Embassy isolated in civil war-riven China. Commander J.S. Kieran (Richard Todd) is forced to brave Communist artillery along the 140-mile stretch to freedom, losing many men en route.

Richard Todd stars as Ward Prescott, a man who turns up at the Costa Brava house of an heiress (Anne Baxter), whose father has recently committed suicide and whose brother was seemingly killed in an accident. Prescott claims to be her dead brother but she is not convinced, despite all the evidence confirming his claim, her uncle recognising him, and the local police chief dismissing her. Is she lying or are the rest of the players?

Three variety specials created by Dick Emery for Thames Television featuring many of his colourful characters as well as the talents of guests like Bill Pertwee and Lulu. A renowned television comedian for more than 40 years, these specials showcase some of Emery's best known characters and their misadventures including the buck-toothed vicar, the man-eating Hetty and the impossibly camp Clarence.

In the heart of Africa, police commissioner Sanders (Richard Todd) is investigating a hospital murder when he discovers a diamond smuggling plot.

Two adventures from the early 1980s with Peter Davison starring as the Time Lord. In 'Kinda' (1982), the Doctor (Davison), Tegan (Janet Fielding), Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) and Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) land on paradisical Deva Loka, for rest and recuperation. However, the military expediton on the planet has lost several crew members, and the Doctor and Adric are taken hostage by the near hysterical Hindle. Meanwhile, Tegan's dreams have provided the gateway to an ancient evil, the snake-like Mara. The Doctor must prevent the Mara from taking over the Kinda and destroying the expedition, as the wheel of creation begins to turn. In 'Snakedance' (1983), a loose sequel to 'Kinda', Tegan must have made a mistake when she was setting the co-ordinates for the TARDIS, because the Doctor certainly hadn't intended landing on Manussa. When the Doctor learns that Manussa was once the home of the Sumaran Empire, he realises that an evil force has begun to take over Tegan's will. This force, the Mara, is planning to use Tegan as a vehicle to retake power on Manussa. Just as the celebrations to commemorate the destruction of the Sumaran Empire by the Federation are about to take place, the Legend of Mara is about to come true.

A compelling story of an addict's valiant attempt to do the difficult and challenging work to move into sustained recovery. Sitting Still sheds light on one of the country's most successful alcohol and drug treat programs, displaying in gripping detail why it consistently maintains such a high rate of recovery for its participants. Meet some of the typical residents in this long-term treatment program and discover why some of them succeed while others fail.

What goes on in a college classroom? For all that has been written in recent years about higher education, scant attention has been paid to the heart of the matter: teaching. These 13 essays by members of the Amherst College Faculty aim to correct that oversight. In defining itself, Amherst College focuses on the life of the classroom. No faculty member, no matter how senior, is excused from teaching; no cadre of graduate students shoulders the load of introductory courses. To teach is the central mission of each professor. But it is seldom the only mission, since almost everyone who teaches at Amherst also pursues research. Maintaining a balance between the two activities is sometimes frustrating, but more often nourishing and exhilarating. In his foreword, college president Peter R. Pouncey speaks of the ways in which teaching and research cross-fertilise each other. These essays demonstrate that the pleasures and challenges of the classroom are inexhaustible. Contributors include Benjamin DeMott (English), George Greenstein (astronomy), Rhonda Cobham (black studies), Austin Sarat (political science), Tekla Harms (geology), Peter R. Pouncey (classics), Jay Caplan and Marie-Helene Huet (Romance languages), Lisa Raskin (psychology and neuroscience), William H. Pritchard (English), Jan E. Dizard (sociology), William E. Kennick (philosophy), Robert H. Romer (physics), and Robert Sweeney (fine arts).

Rational Polemics: Tackling the Ethical Dilemmas of Life There's a whole host of beliefs that most people simply repeat without question. They are chanted so often as to have nearly lost all meaning, and are rarely challenged. Rational Polemics dares to expose the contradictions that are rife in many of these blindly accepted beliefs. The book endeavors to question all things to expose the folly and hypocrisy of universally held beliefs, including accepted religious dogma. It is geared toward open-minded readers with the courage to challenge convention and political correctness to consider alternative viewpoints. Rational Polemics by Richard Devens presents a provocative, controversial, outrageous challenge to the ideas and values that most of the world merely accepts on faith ideas that, upon closer examination, make little sense. I wrote this book to encourage people not to blindly accept what others believe just because it is 'politically correct' to do so, or just because the majority does, Devens says. I encourage people to think for themselves, and to live by the courage of their convictions. I encourage people to have the integrity of living by their own moral code if, by rational thought and reflection, they are convinced they are right. Told through personal anecdotes, with tongue-in-cheek humor and refreshing candor, Rational Polemics is a breath of fresh air to anyone ready to consider the true nature of evil, the hypocrisies inherent in religion and other prickly debates. Rational Polemics opens readers' minds to new ideas about deep and often difficult topics, sans the sugarcoating.

Richard Todd Canton describes himself as a working man. Never one to sit around for long periods of time, he's made a habit of keeping busy-and paying attention. He entered the working world at twelve, when he stepped through the back door of a restaurant and asked for a job.

Since then, he's learned from some masters and has applied that knowledge to every aspect of his life. Along the way, he's also met some interesting characters-and you'll meet many of them in this collection of anecdotes from his colorful and unusual life.

As one of nine children, he learned early on that the observant person can find inspiration in every person he encounters. His brother, seven sisters, and widowed mother were among the first to inspire him.

This memoir invites you to join him on a journey through life, love, and other lessons. He shares some of the experiences and lessons he learned growing up in the food business (and in business in general). You'll meet some intriguing characters who have influenced Canton in one way or the other; you might even recognize yourself or your friends within the tales.

Take a journey with him back through time as you meet some of the magnificent people who have made an impact on his life.

Richard Todd Canton describes himself as a working man. Never one to sit around for long periods of time, he's made a habit of keeping busy-and paying attention. He entered the working world at twelve, when he stepped through the back door of a restaurant and asked for a job.

Since then, he's learned from some masters and has applied that knowledge to every aspect of his life. Along the way, he's also met some interesting characters-and you'll meet many of them in this collection of anecdotes from his colorful and unusual life.

As one of nine children, he learned early on that the observant person can find inspiration in every person he encounters. His brother, seven sisters, and widowed mother were among the first to inspire him.

This memoir invites you to join him on a journey through life, love, and other lessons. He shares some of the experiences and lessons he learned growing up in the food business (and in business in general). You'll meet some intriguing characters who have influenced Canton in one way or the other; you might even recognize yourself or your friends within the tales.

Take a journey with him back through time as you meet some of the magnificent people who have made an impact on his life.

Cats & Dogs are People Too

Since we have no kids of our own, people often assume that our pets have become our children. Well, I think it runs a little deeper than that. It has to do with how much love is exchanged between man and beast. That love can run pretty deep where certain individuals are concerned. I may very well be one of those. Let me introduce you to our family and you can decide for yourself.

Christmas means different things to different people. To Richard Todd Canton, it means his revisiting life as a boy in a house that his father built for his family on Russell Street in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Christmas also brings with it fond memories of his mother, who filled their home with life, laughter, and love. "All Things Family and Christmas" offers both a sentimental journey and a reminder to all busy people that it's important to take a moment to slow down and enjoy the holidays.

"All Things Family and Christmas" is the second collection of stories based upon Canton's life growing up on Russell Street. It offers a poignant, heartfelt window into the life and memories of a grateful son and husband. From the wonderful memories of Christmases long past to the memorable characters that he encountered while working at Kmart, Canton paints a picture of interesting people and wondrous memories that are the foundation of his history.

Christmas means different things to different people. To Richard Todd Canton, it means his revisiting life as a boy in a house that his father built for his family on Russell Street in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Christmas also brings with it fond memories of his mother, who filled their home with life, laughter, and love. "All Things Family and Christmas" offers both a sentimental journey and a reminder to all busy people that it's important to take a moment to slow down and enjoy the holidays.

"All Things Family and Christmas" is the second collection of stories based upon Canton's life growing up on Russell Street. It offers a poignant, heartfelt window into the life and memories of a grateful son and husband. From the wonderful memories of Christmases long past to the memorable characters that he encountered while working at Kmart, Canton paints a picture of interesting people and wondrous memories that are the foundation of his history.