Books by Diane Johnson

A classic of alternative biography and feminist writing, this empathetic and witty book gives due to a "lesser" figure of history, Mary Ellen Peacock Meredith, who was brilliant, unconventional, and at odds with the constraints of Victorian life. “Many people have described the Famous Writer presiding at his dinner table. . . . He is famous; everybody remembers his remarks. . . . We forget that there were other family members at the table—a quiet person, now muffled by time, shadowy, whose heart pounded with love, perhaps, or rage.” So begins The True History of the First Mrs. Meredith and Other Lesser Lives, an uncommon biography devoted to one of those “lesser lives.” As the author points out, “A lesser life does not seem lesser to the person who leads one.” Such sympathy and curiosity compelled Diane Johnson to research Mary Ellen Peacock Meredith (1821–1861), the daughter of the famous artist Thomas Love Peacock (1785–1866) and first wife of the equally famous poet George Meredith (1828–1909). Her life, treated perfunctorily and prudishly in biographies of Peacock or Meredith, is here exquisitely and unhurriedly given its due. What emerges is the portrait of a brilliant, well-educated woman, raised unconventionally by her father only to feel more forcefully the constraints of the Victorian era. First published in 1972, Lesser Lives has been a key text for feminists and biographers alike, a book that reimagined what biography might be, both in terms of subject and style. Biographies of other “lesser” lives have since followed in its footsteps, but few have the wit, elegance, and empathy of Johnson’s seminal work.

A strange thing started happening to me a few months back. I found myself waking up around 5:00 a.m. or so several mornings with a strong need to study Bible on a particular subject or maybe a special scripture. I found myself pouring out my heart into written devotionals. I write about depression, anger, love, trust, finding new siblings, and always trusting in God for the strength and guidance through each new journey. The more I allowed the Holy Spirit to guide me, the more at peace my life became, and the more. I wanted to share my experiences with others. I set out to write a year's worth of weekly devotionals. Walking with God contains fifty-two devotionals. The life lessons that I write about are some that I am sure a lot of us face. My hope is that this book, which is filled with God's words and His love, will give someone a little more hope, a little more strength, and a little more peace to keep fighting the fight and staying on the winning team. God's team.

Clara Holly is a former actress, beautiful, rich, and 'well married, far from her Oregon beginnings' to the renowned but reclusive film director Serge Clay. Despite murder, misunderstanding, hostage-taking and erotic encounters, however, le marriage must go ahead in the grand French style.

"e;A timely guide to the entire youth justice process at a point of substantial change. * An introduction to the entire Youth Justice System (YJS) * An holistic approach covering both the youth court and the wider youth justice process * Contains expert descriptions, comment (sometimes critical) and analysis * Everything you need to start understanding the modern-day Youth Justice System (YJS)This book is the ideal starting point for anyone wishing to gain or enhance understanding of youth justice in England and Wales. It contains chapters on each of the areas in which youth offenders or those at risk of offending come into contact with the Youth Justice System (YJS). It looks at the roles of the youth court, police, Crown prosecutors, youth offending teams (YOTs), youth offending panels (YOPs), voluntary sector and wider community. It deals with sentencing (including the work of the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC)), the responsibilities of the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and a range of ways in which crime prevention and anti-social behaviour (ASB) by young people is dealt with and discouraged.The book takes full account of the considerable changes introduced by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. It also looks at the unique welfare-based ethos of youth justice and modern-day 'restorative approaches', showing how youth justice practitioners seek to balance these with the needs of crime prevention and the challenge of protecting victims from (sometimes serious) youth offending.Also contains a Glossary of Words, Phrases, Acronyms and Abbreviations, a Timeline, plus illustrative Charts and Tables.For such a 'simple, speedy, summary' it contains a treasure trove of information.Review'Well structured and easy to navigate with its diagrams and glossary ... its comprehensive coverage of the recent reforms and inclusion of the newly published sentencing guidelines make it the ideal starting point for the student and practitioner, or for those wanting to refresh their knowledge': Justice JournalAuthorsMike Watkins is an experienced trainer of magistrates who has written materials for the Judicial Studies Board, Magistrates' Association and Universities of Birmingham and Cambridge.Diane Johnson is Head of Service for Warwickshire Youth Offending Team (YOT).Chris Stanley is Chair of the East Kent Youth Court Panel and of the Kent Branch of the Magistrates' Association. He is a member of the national Council of that body and its Youth Courts Committee. He is a former head of Policy and Research at Nacro and advises the Prison Reform Trust on matters of youth justice.A timely guide to the entire youth justice process at a point of substantial change. * An introduction to the entire Youth Justice System (YJS) * An holistic approach covering both the youth court and the wider youth justice process * Contains expert descriptions, comment (sometimes critical) and analysis * Everything you need to start understanding the modern-day Youth Justice System (YJS)This book is the ideal starting point for anyone wishing to gain or enhance understanding of youth justice in England and Wales. It contains chapters on each of the areas in which youth offenders or those at risk of offending come into contact with the Youth Justice System (YJS). It looks at the roles of the youth court, police, Crown prosecutors, youth offending teams (YOTs), youth offending panels (YOPs), voluntary sector and wider community. It deals with sentencing (including the work of the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC)), the responsibilities of the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and a range of ways in which crime prevention and anti-social behaviour (ASB) by young people is dealt with and discouraged.The book takes full account of the considerable changes introduced by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. It also looks at the unique welfare-based ethos of youth justice and modern-day 'restorative approach

Lulu Sawyer arrives in Marrakech hoping to rekindle her romance with businessman Ian Drumm. It's the perfect cover for her assignment with the CIA: tracing the flow of money from donors to radical Islamic groups. As she navigates the complex interface of East and West, Lulu stumbles into unforeseen intrigues: a young Muslim girl, Suma, is on the run from her brother intent on an honour killing; and a beautiful Saudi woman, Gazi, is vying for Ian's love, leaving her husband in a desperate bid to escape her repressive society. The more Lulu immerses herself in the workings of Marrakech, the more questions emerge as beneath the surface of this polite expatriate community lies a more sinister world laced with double standards as well as double agents.

Set in Paris, LE DIVORCE is an alluring and elegant comedy of love and divorce French-style. While Isabel embarks on her own sentimental education - seduced by gourmet food, antiques, existentialism and an older man - her sister's marriage disintergrates into bitter Franco-American wrangles over money, titles and a mysterious painting.