Recent notable books by 91̽»¨ faculty members look at gentrification and inequity in a New York neighborhood, skin lighteners though history, female agency in Arthurian legend and biographical epitaphs in China across many centuries.

91̽»¨Bothell’s Christian Anderson explores gentrification of a NYC neighborhood in ‘Urbanism Without Guarantees’

The gentrification of a single street in New York City’s Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood is the scene for this in-depth ethnographic study of urban transformation by , associate professor in the 91̽»¨Bothell School of Interdisciplinary Arts.

“” was published in March by University of Minnesota Press. The book looks at how residents work to preserve the quality of life of their neighborhood and both define and maintain their values of urban living, taking actions that connect their daily lives to broader structural inequities, for better and worse.

Notes from the publisher call it “a unique more-than-capitalist take on urban dynamics,” adding, “Examining how residents are pulled into these systems of gentrification, Anderson proposes new ways to think and act critically and organize for transformation of a place — in actions that local residents can start to do wherever they are.”

For more information, contact Anderson at cmander@uw.edu.

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Lynn Thomas studies skin lighteners through history in new book

Skin lighteners have been used by consumers for centuries even while being opposed by medical professionals, consumer health advocates and antiracist thinkers and activists.

In her new book, 91̽»¨history professor traces the changing meanings of skin color, in South Africa and beyond, from precolonial times to the present.

“” was published in January by Duke University Press.

Thomas shows how “the use of skin lighteners and experiences of skin color have been shaped by slavery, colonialism and segregation, as well as consumer capitalism, visual media, notions of beauty, and protest politics,” publisher’s notes said.

Calling the book “nothing short of a tour de force,” one reviewer wrote: “Carefully attending to the complex politics of race and color that are grounded in skin, Thomas at once provides a vibrant history of South Africa and a global history of commodity, beauty and the body. This landmark study sets a new standard in the field.”

For more information contact Thomas at lynnmt@uw.edu.

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Remembered lives: Historian Patricia Ebrey co-edits book on Chinese funerary biographies

Funerary biographies are epitaphs engraved on stone and placed in a grave. They usually focus on the deceased’s life, words and deeds. Tens of thousands of these biographies survive from Imperial China, providing a glimpse into the lives of many people not documented by more conventional sources.

“,” co-edited by 91̽»¨history professor , is an anthology of translations of such funerary biographies covering nearly 2,000 years — from the through the 19^th century. The book was published in January by 91̽»¨ Press.

Editing the volume with Ebrey were of California State University and of the University of Virginia.

Biographies in the anthology, 91̽»¨Press notes say, were chosen for their value as teaching material on Chinese history, literature, and women’s studies as well as world history. “Because they include revealing details about personal conduct, families, local conditions, and social, cultural, and religious practices, these epitaphs illustrate ways of thinking and the realities of daily life.”

Ebrey is the author or editor of several books on China, most recently “Emperor Huizong,” in 2014.

For more information, contact Ebrey at ebrey@uw.edu.

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Annegret Oehme of Germanics publishes book on adaptations of Arthurian tale

, an assistant professor in the Department of Germanics, has published a new book about adaptations and translations of , a centuries-old tale describing the adventures of an Arthurian knight, across different languages and media.

“” was published in January by De Gruyter.

The publication explores two previously dismissed pre-modern adaptations of the Middle High German 1215 verse-novel “Wigalois,” and their different approaches to female agency in comparison with the original text and later Yiddish and German versions, in the 14^th and 15^th centuries respectively.

Read more on the department . For more information, contact Oehme at oehme@uw.edu.

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Other book notes:

Epilogue on ecocriticism: , 91̽»¨associate professor of French, has written the epilogue for a new book that discusses the relationship between contemporary ecological thought and early modern French literature.

“,” edited by Pauline Goul of Vassar and Phillip Usher of New York University, was published in March by Amsterdam University Press.

Publisher’s notes say the volume “foregrounds not how ecocriticism renews our understanding of a literary corpus, but rather how that corpus causes us to rethink or to nuance contemporary eco-theory.”

Read more on the French & Italian Studies Department .

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What are you reading? 91̽»¨Notebook seeking ‘comfort reading’ recommendations

Though faculty and staff continue to work hard during the coronavirus shutdown, some of us may also have a little more time on our hands for reading. Sometimes an old favorite book can be a comfort.

What are you reading to relax these days? What books would you recommend to fellow faculty and staff as comfort reading?

For me, it’s a re-read of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Two Towers” and classic science fiction short stories by Ray Bradbury in “The Illustrated Man.” And then maybe an epic novel by Herman Wouk — or even a midsummer revisit to “Charlotte’s Web.”

91̽»¨faculty and staff colleagues: Email me at kellep@uw.edu and I’ll mention some favorite books in subsequent book stories, and possibly on social media. 91̽»¨Notebook.

is a professor of computer science & engineering. Her research is primarily in theoretical computer science: the design and analysis of algorithms, particularly probabilistic and online algorithms. She also works at the interface between theory and other areas, such as economics and game theory, data mining, operating systems, networks and distributed systems.

is a professor of biochemistry and pathology and principal investigator at . His research focuses on the role of mutations in the initiation and progression of human cancers. The goal of his lab is to understand the relationships between DNA damage, mutations and cancer.

is a professor of archaeology in the Department of Anthropology. His research interests involve understanding interrelationships between people and the biotic landscapes with which they interact.

is a professor of history with an emphasis on early imperial China and the Song dynasty. She has written numerous books and articles including most recently a biography on Emperor Huizong.

Founded in 1780, the is one of the country’s oldest learned societies and independent policy research centers, convening leaders from the academic, business and government sectors to respond to the challenges facing the nation and the world. Current research focuses on higher education, the humanities, and the arts; science and technology policy; global security and energy; and American institutions and the public good.

Q: Would you describe the book?

A: “Emperor Huizong” is organized into four parts. The first part traces his orphaned childhood, his accession to the throne at age 17 and the men he worked with during his first three years as emperor as he learned how to perform the rituals and customs of his role.

The second part looks at cultural initiatives during Huizong’s first decade on the throne, when he patronized physicians, painters, builders and Daoist priests; sponsored reform of court music; and crafted an image of himself as a talented poet, painter and calligrapher.

The third part considers some ambitious projects Huizong undertook during his second decade such as building palaces, temples and gardens. It also examines his relationship with his councilors and many consorts, who bore him 65 children. It ends with an analysis of how Huizong came to abandon the negotiated peace with Song’s northern neighbor, the state of Liao, and form an alliance with Liao’s enemy the Jurchen Jin.

The final part tells the tragic story of what resulted from that decision, including the siege of the Song capital by the Jurchens, its looting, and the captivity of Huizong and thousands of others from his court and clan.

My take on Huizong is not at all the traditional one. Since Huizong’s reign ended badly, Chinese historians assume he must have been a bad emperor. I look at Huizong sympathetically, trying to put his actions in the context of his time and place. In this I am closer to the Western tradition of rulers’ biographies, which places more weight on the human side of rulers.

Q: You write, “The drama of Huizong’s life owes much to the large role that chance played in it.”  Would you explain?

A: No one could have predicted either of the two biggest life-changing events in Huizong’s life — his ascension to the throne in 1100 and his capture by the Jurchens a quarter-century later. Huizong would not have become emperor if his elder brother had lived to see a son born or adopted. Later, if the Jurchen uprising had been suppressed by Liao, Huizong could well have reigned another decade or more.

Indeed, had Huizong moved the court when he first heard news of the Jurchen invasion, as some advised, he might well have escaped captivity. These chance events give Huizong’s story a lot of dramatic appeal.

Q: As you note, Huizong never wrote a memoir, “nor did any historian of his own day or even later dynasties chronicle his life.” How did you go about your research?

A: I pieced together evidence from many different kinds of sources, from the reports and petitions submitted to him to things he wrote himself — edicts, poetry, prefaces to books he commissioned, commentaries on Daoist classics, and so on.

Anecdotal literature was also invaluable. Many of the most interesting incidents were recorded in the 12th century in miscellanies full of gossip. I tried to exclude records most likely to be based on groundless rumors, but I did not reject this sort of material out of hand.

Q: Finally, how do you hope this biography might change history’s view of Emperor Huizong?

A: Most who have heard of Huizong know him as a ruler talented at painting and calligraphy but inept at selecting advisers and overly self-indulgent. Chinese historians have traditionally assessed Huizong’s reign with its end in mind; since Huizong’s government came to a bad end, he must have been at fault. I hope my book will convince people that it is time to set aside that way of thinking.

Performing the role of emperor was immensely complicated. Huizong was not a negligent ruler — he did not refuse to meet his officials or read their reports — but was in fact rather diligent. He had access to enormous resources but the constraints on him were also very real. He could not even travel around the country to check on the state of his armies.

Let me add, though, that I did not write this book only for people who have already heard of Huizong. I think that viewing the world from one person’s perspective is an excellent way to get into an age and a place. To draw in readers relatively unfamiliar with Song China, I provide background on everything from political factionalism to poetry as an element of court culture.

By the time they have finished the book, readers will know a lot more not only about Huizong but also about China in the 11th and 12th centuries.