News and Events
Hearing Others' Voices
A book series by Balestier Press (London and Singapore)
Hearing Others’ Voices is a new transcultural and inter-disciplinary series edited by physicist Roh-Suan Tung and anthropologist Ruth Finnegan. It is designed, in simple and straightforward language, to inform and engage general readers, undergraduates and, above all, young adults/school sixth-formers to reflect on who and where they are and to explore recent advances in thought, unaccountably overlooked areas of the world, and key issues of the day.
Interview with Ruth Finnegan for Literary Titan
Time for the World to Learn From Africa is an educational book that brings forth the historical and characteristic details of Africa. Why was this an important book for you to write? It goes back a long way. My first degree was in classical studies – Greek and Roman times – following my father...
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Welcome from us all, specially the series editors Ruth and Roh.
We all look forward to your ideas and questions and arguments and (seriously!) criticisms and challenges. It would be specially interesting for your colleagues across the world to have your (honest) reactions to any of the discussion questions.
Photos and videos too, images, and links to lots of music and poetry and thoughts please, your own and others’. The series, after all, is Hearing Others’ Voices – yours very much included – so that’s what it’s all about.
The first volumes were released in November 2018, preceded by the October launch of the Chinese version of Rob Janoff’s amazing personal account of how he created the Apple logo,
Taking a Bite Out of the Apple, a graphic designer’s tale.
There are now many other books in the series, many also with translations into Chinese and other world languages.
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Presentations
‘The mystery, meaning and magic of names’
American Folklore Society Annual Meeting
Baltimore, Francis Lee Memorial Lecture, 18 October 2019
Abstract: The study of names has flourished for centuries. Its scope has been somewhat limited however, for, as Francis Lee Utley pointed out in 1963, there is little on the linguistic side to set against the plenitude on historical, logical and etymological aspects. Here, I attempt to reflect a little further on the language of names (in the broad sense of language that includes etymology and meaning). I point first to some rather obvious but commonly neglected aspects before moving on to consider certain more startling and – frankly – outrageous speculations. Sceptics kindly look leave now!
‘Studying Africa and literature: interactions of folklore and anthropology’ (keynote address)
Folklore and Anthropology In Conversation
Africa (Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, and Folklore Society, London, 24 October 2019,
Betrothed wins at the Angel Awards!
We Congratulate Ruth Finnegan the versatile multi award winning author, and anthropologist for her award winning romance 'BETROTHED, A CRUSADES ROMANCE' winning Best Epic Historical Romance & Best Independent Spirit Award at the Angel Film Awards Monaco International Film Festival.
Teenage maiden forcibly betrothed to unimaginative elderly knight falls in love with another during his Crusades absence, only to be faced with his unexpected return, as a changed and softened man after his encounter with the Muslim Saladin: a drama of the historic clash between Muslim and Christian, east and west, old and young, that – inspiration for our times too – is transcended by the sweet friendship and understanding between Norman knight and Muslim leader.
