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Written by first-time author Bob Curran, 'Heart of a Lamb Courage of a Lion' tells a heart-breaking story of the life of the writer from early years growing up in 60's Dundee to life as an acclaimed amateur fighter and Royal Engineer. Make no mistake; this is a very brave piece to have been written. Whilst many have penned autobiographies, I can think of none that have offered themselves so 'warts and all' as Curran. The Scotsman endured a brutal upbringing at the hands of a violent alcoholic father and suffered more of the same growing up attending tough Catholic schools. Beaten to a pulp by his Dad, teachers and school bullies on a regular basis, the tiny lad not only suffered physical hurt but deep emotional scars that remain to this very day. Around the horrendous treatment came the boxing bug as the bullied youngster joined a local boxing club aged seven and became instantly addicted. Boxing firstly out of the Camperdown ABC before joining the Lochee Boys club, the diminutive lad improved his confidence and well-being as a young fighter weighing not even seven stone (98lbs).There's a highly amusing tale about the young Curran whipping a well-known politician in his time at Lochee. Thirty years or so later the same politician would brag on 'Celebrity Big Brother' about boxing out of Lochee to the writer's obvious irritation. Already a handy fighter and 1970 Scottish youth champion, the teenage Curran enlisted in the Army aged 16 where his boxing career flourished, going 50-2 in his time there. The talented Curran would box the likes of (future pro British champion) George Feeney in a glittering forces career which saw him crowned British bantamweight champion in the 1973 NABC championships. At 18-years-old Bob was offered a pro contract by Dave Boy Green's manager Andy Smith but turned it down with hopes of winning the national ABA's and competing in the Olympics. Curran turned down the lucrative offer but, despite his obvious talent, never achieved either distinction and also never turned professional. Here is where the story really sours and the book starts becoming increasingly hard to read. You'll keep reading though as Bob suffers some spectacular mishaps.The Scottish soldier, still suffering low self-esteem issues and with an under-lying self-loathing, went completely off the rails following the break-up of his brief, and disastrous, first marriage. The marriage ended bitterly and further knocked the young man's spirits as he spiralled into depression. Eventually thrown out of the forces following a destructive episode in Cyprus, Curran was forced to regroup and face up to life away from his beloved 59 Independent Commando squadron. The role of an Army physical training instructor is one he had relished and loved before his marriage break-up. While the book details in depth Curran's days as a champion boxer and Royal Engineer, the remaining thirty-odd years are skipped through in minimal time. The former soldier turned to drugs and heavy drinking in the years after but cleaned up after finding religion. He got married again and had children but nothing is mentioned other than none wanted to be included in the biography. The former fighter was forced into early retirement in 1999 following a work accident left him with a serious back injury. It is an engrossing read which proves amusing, sincere and fascinating.The almost Jekyll-and-Hyde character of Curran leaps out of the pages as a well-intentioned, but emotionally scarred individual, who has an amazing knack of making a bad situation even worse (especially with his sometimes acid tongue). You will laugh and cry at the manner the story is told; very honest with no bravado. He remains however a man of sound morals despite his colourful life. Considering he has faced; a violent upbringing, paedophile attacks, messy relationships, life in the Army, all his amateur fights plus drugs and alcohol abuse, Bob must be commended by dealing with all of the above and never dodges any subject no matter how the situation may reflect him (on a few occasions diabolically so). In closing, a brutal read which deals with many subjects everyone could do with learning more about; especially post-traumatic stress disorder and issues with self-esteem. A highly entertaining book for all but the faint-hearted.

In The Lamb's Agenda Samuel Rodriguez offers a blueprint for Christian rejuvenation, a prophetic call to orient our lives at the nexus of the cross.

Your "turning" or "conversion" is only a beginning, and no more. It is not the whole journey; it is merely the first step. You are a disciple, that is, one who is under teaching; but your teaching, your discipleship, has only just begun. Your life is a book; it may be a bigger or smaller volume, but conversion is only the title page or the preface. The book itself remains to be written, and your years, weeks, and days are its chapters, pages, and lines. It is a book written for eternity; make sure that it is written well. It is a book for the inspection of enemies as well as friends; be careful of every word. It is a book written under the eye of God; let it be done reverently, not frivolously, but also without constraint or terror. For encouragement and help on this journey, please join me in diving into what the Bible says about fruitful Christian living. Make sure you start well, continue well, and end well. The Lord has ensured that you have all the instructions you'll need, if only you take the time to learn and apply them. List of Chapters: Ch. 1: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus Ch. 2: Keep Your Conscience Clean Ch. 3: Hold Tightly to What You Have Received Ch. 4: Deal Honestly with Yourself Ch. 5: Keep Company with God and with the People of God Ch. 6: Study the Bible Ch. 7: Watch Your Steps Ch. 8: Put Away Vanity and the Love of Praise Ch. 9: Watch Against Satan Ch. 10: Beware of One-Sided Truth Ch. 11: Do Something for God Ch. 12: Live with Anticipation for Christ’s Return

This eBook edition of "The Collected Works of Charles Lamb and Mary Lamb" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. Essays of Elia is a collection of essays written by Charles Lamb, first published in book form in 1823, with a second volume, Last Essays of Elia, issued in 1833. The essays in the collection first began appearing in The London Magazine in 1820 and continued to 1825. The personal and conversational tone of the essays has charmed many readers. Lamb himself is the Elia of the collection, and his sister Mary is "Cousin Bridget." Charles first used the pseudonym Elia for an essay on the South Sea House, where he had worked decades earlier; Elia was the last name of an Italian man who worked there at the same time as Charles, and after that essay the name stuck. Tales from Shakespeare is an English children's book written by Charles and Mary Lamb in 1807. The book is designed to make the stories of Shakespeare's plays familiar to the young. Mary Lamb was responsible for the comedies, while Charles wrote the tragedies; they wrote the preface between them. Volume 1: Curious fragments, extracted from a commonplace-book which belonged to Robert Burton, the famous Author of "The Anatomy of Melancholy" Early Journalism Characters of Dramatic Writers, Contemporary with Shakspeare On the Inconveniences Resulting from Being Hanged On the Danger of Confounding Moral with Personal Deformity: with a Hint to those who have the Framing of Advertisements for Apprehending Offenders... Volume 2: Essays of Elia Last Essays of Elia Volume 3: Tales from Shakespeare The Adventures of Ulysses Mrs. Leicester's School The King and Queen of Hearts Poetry for Children Three Poems Not in "Poetry for Children" Prince Dorus Volume 4: Rosamund Gray, Essays, Etc. Poems Album Verses, With a Few Others Volume 5: The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb (1796-1820) Volume 6: The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb (1821-1842)

Dive into the literary world of Charles Lamb and Mary Lamb with this comprehensive collection of their complete works, elegantly illustrated for a delightful reading experience. The anthology features timeless classics such as "Tales from Shakespeare," a captivating retelling of the Bard's plays designed for young readers. The collection also includes Charles Lamb's famous "Essays of Elia," a series of brilliant and personal essays that showcase his wit, humor, and keen observations on life. Readers will be transported to the enchanting realm of Greek mythology with "The Adventures of Ulysses," providing a unique perspective on Homer's epic. The illustrated edition enhances the literary journey, bringing these masterpieces to life with visual interpretations that complement the richness of the prose. Whether you're revisiting beloved tales or discovering the Lamb siblings' works for the first time, this collection is a treasure trove of literary gems that captures the essence of their enduring contribution to English literature. The Collaborative Works JOHN WOODVIL TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE MRS. LEICESTER’S SCHOOL POETRY FOR CHILDREN Charles Lamb’s Fiction A TALE OF ROSAMUND GRAY AND OLD BLIND MARGARET THE ADVENTURES OF ULYSSES Charles Lamb’s Plays MR H.; OR BEWARE A BAD NAME THE PAWNBROKER’S DAUGHTER THE WITCH THE WIFE’S TRIAL Charles Lamb’s Non-Fiction ON THE TRAGEDIES OF SHAKESPEARE WITCHES AND OTHER NIGHT FEARS ELIA AND THE LAST ESSAYS OF ELIA RECOLLECTIONS OF CHRIST’S HOSPITAL MISCELLANEOUS PROSE Charles Lamb’s Poetry POEMS FROM BLANK VERSE THE KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS PRINCE DORUS SATAN IN SEARCH OF A WIFE ALBUM VERSES MISCELLANEOUS POEMS Mary Lamb’s Essay ON NEEDLE-WORK BY ‘SEMPRONIA’ The Letters THE LETTERS OF CHARLES AND MARY LAMB The Criticism CHARLES LAMB by Thomas de Quincey ELIA, AND GEOFFREY CRAYON by William Hazlitt CHARLES LAMB by Walter Pater CHARLES LAMB by Arthur Symons CHARLES LAMB by John Cowper Powys CHARLES LAMB by Charles Edwyn Vaughan CHARLES LAMB by S. P. B. Mais CHARLES LAMB by Hattie Tyng Griswold CHARLES LAMB by Augustine Birrell THE LETTERS OF CHARLES LAMB by Augustine Birrell CHARLES LAMB by A. St. John Adcock

First Published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.