Fiction companion works

Book SynopsisA peerless AZ guide to the names, places and events in the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, fully illustrated in colour throughout by acclaimed Tolkien artist, Ted Nasmith.J.R.R. Tolkien's works of epic adventure and fantasy, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion have delighted many millions of fans since they were first published, and are now more popular than ever before.The Complete Guide to Middle-earth has been compiled to enhance the reader's enjoyment of Tolkien's books by bringing together in an A-Z sequence all the key facts and information about names, places, languages and events from The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.Accompanied with numerous genealogical tables and a unique Chronology of the First Age, it will provide an indispensable aid to every reader's discovery of Tolkien's world.The first, and definitive, encyclopedia, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth is now reissued to complement the illustrated hardbacks of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales, and is lavishly illustrated with more than 50 full-colour paintings by acclaimed Tolkien artist, Ted Nasmith, with many appearing exclusively in this edition.Trade Review‘Middle-earth is the country of J.R.R. Tolkien’s tales – the territory of Sauron, Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf and Sam Gamgee – whose legends, history, geography and inhabitants combine to make a unique fictional world. This Guide is a comprehensive reference work to every name and event in Tolkien’s books, from The Hobbit to The Silmarillion.’Daily Telegraph ‘Mr Robert Foster’s Complete Guide to Middle-earth supplies, as I have found through frequent use, an admirable work of reference.’CHRISTOPHER TOLKIEN

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Book SynopsisThis special edition invites fans inside the world of the March sisters. It includes the full text of Little Women, plus gorgeous, removable replicas of the characters' letters and other writings. For anyone who loves Little Women, or still cherishes the joy of letter writing, this book illuminates a favorite story in a whole new way. Louisa May Alcott's classic tale follows the March sisters as they come of age, and these unforgettable characters come alive in their letters and other writings. When Laurie invites Jo to join him for a picnic and "all sorts of larks," the unbridled joy of their friendship shines through. Each of the girls' personalities is perfectly encapsulated in the letters they pen to Marmee. And Jo's heart-wrenching poem "My Beth" speaks to the profound bond between two sisters. As you read this deluxe edition of the novel, you will find pockets throughout containing replicas of all 17 significant letters and paper ephemera from the story, re-created with beautiful calligraphy and painstaking attention to historical detail. Pull out each one, peruse its contents, and allow yourself to be transported to the parlor of the March family home. BELOVED STORY: LITTLE WOMEN has been passed down from generation to generation. Greta Gerwig's 2019 film adaption welcomed new fans to the story. Now is the perfect time to revisit the Alcott's original text and experience it in a unique way with physical ephemera that links you directly to the world of the March family. UNIQUE FORMAT: From the masterful calligraphy, to the painstaking attention to historical detail, to the hand-folding of the letters, to the quality of the materials—each book is an object made by fans for fans. This edition offers an immersive experience of the story, stands apart on the shelf, and makes for a truly lovely gift and keepsake. NOSTALGIC APPEAL, TIMELESS STORY: LITTLE WOMEN evokes deep childhood nostalgia—yet it's a rich and sophisticated story with feminist overtones that engages readers of any age and any generation. This edition allows those who read LITTLE WOMEN as children to experience their beloved novel anew, while inviting first-time readers to the party. Perfect for: • LITTLE WOMEN fans • Fans of the film adaptions • Moms, daughters, grandmothers, and girlfriends • Book clubbers • Letter writers • Collectors of vintage ephemera

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes a highly designed, colourful collection of quotes, wit, and wisdom from Lady Whistledown and the most memorable characters of the beloved Bridgerton books, now a series created by Shondaland for Netflix.Most esteemed members of the Ton, we are delighted to extend a very special invitation . . . let the notorious Lady Whistledown be your personal guide to each of the characters you know and love. From Simon, to Daphne, to Penelope and Colin, this is your chance to get to know your favourite characters like never before, discovering new gossip and old scandals (once noted, never forgotten...). With over 10,000 words of brand new material written by Quinn (AKA Whistledown) herself, this is the true Bridgerton devotee''s perfect Christmas gift . . .Each chapter in the book will highlight a different character from the Bridgerton series and include a new introduction from Lady Whistledo

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Book SynopsisThe Destiny Grimoire Anthology is a must-have collectible lore compendium assembled for Destiny’s devoted and enlightened scholars and lore lovers, as well as fans of fantasy and science fiction storytelling. The Destiny Grimoire Anthology weaves tales from multiple sources together for the first time, casting new light on Destiny’s most legendary heroes, infamous villains, and their greatest moments of triumph and tragedy.

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Book SynopsisA Sherlock Holmes Escape Book: The Adventure of the Tower of London is a unique form of puzzle book, in which the reader must solve the riddles to escape the pages. The fourth title in this ingenious series of Sherlock Holmes Escape Books, The Adventure of the Tower of London is an exhilarating combination of escape room, puzzle book and adventure story. Inspired by the urban craze for escape rooms, where players tackle puzzles while trapped in a locked room, it is an escape room in the form of a locked book, filled with codes, ciphers, riddles and red herrings, and a clever Code Wheel set into the cover. In the latest adventure in the series, readers will take on the role of the world’s foremost consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes. Holmes’s nemesis Moriarty has locked Sherlock’s friend, the musician Odon von Mihalovic, with the Crown Jewels in a cage in Tower Bridge the night before a special ceremony is due to be held for the Queen. Holmes and Watson are themselves trapped in the nearby Tower of London by Moriarty, and they must work through the night and against the clock to find and free Odon from the cage to prevent him being disgraced in the ceremony the following morning. Combines riddles, logic puzzles, timed challenges, mathematical brain-teasers, maps and mazes. The fourth title in the series of bestselling Sherlock Holmes ‘escape room’ puzzle books Creates an interactive adventure based around two of Victorian London’s most famous landmarks Aimed at puzzle/escape room fans, Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts and those interested in popular mathematics and the early history of computing From the authors of two previous books in the series, A Sherlock Holmes Escape Book: The Adventure of the British Museum and A Sherlock Holmes Escape Book: The Adventure of the Analytical Engine

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the BMA Book Awards and Macavity Awards 2016Fourteen novels. Fourteen poisons. Just because it''s fiction doesn't mean it''s all made-up ...Agatha Christie revelled in the use of poison to kill off unfortunate victims in her books; indeed, she employed it more than any other murder method, with the poison itself often being a central part of the novel. Her choice of deadly substances was far from random the characteristics of each often provide vital clues to the discovery of the murderer. With gunshots or stabbings the cause of death is obvious, but this is not the case with poisons. How is it that some compounds prove so deadly, and in such tiny amounts?Christie''s extensive chemical knowledge provides the backdrop for A is for Arsenic, in which Kathryn Harkup investigates the poisons used by the murderer in fourteen classic Agatha Christie mysteries. It looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with the boTrade ReviewA is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie has lethal charm. Harkup leads every chapter with a literary quote, then proceeds to tell us what the poison is, how and under what circumstances it kills, some real-life instances of its use and what role it plays in the Christie plot ... good fun. * The Washington Post *This book is fascinating, and anyone who is interested in the myriad painful and unpleasant ways in which people can be killed will relish it. * The Times *Harkup superbly captures the texture of Christie's books, the sunshine and the surreptitious villainy. * Daily Mail *A cracking compendium of Christie's poisonings ... A Is For Arsenic will appeal to any fan of Christie's work, but as a potted history of poisons, antidotes and medicines it has much wider reach than that. * BBC Focus *Fact and fun packed, A is for Arsenic looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with th body, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering and detecting these poisons. * Agatha Christie Website *An enjoyable, alphabetical overview of the renowned mystery writer's frequent weapon of choice. * Washington Independent Review of Books *A knockout analysis of poisons used in Christie's novels and short stories … Each chapter gives riveting information on the poison's chemical makeup, how it kills, whether there's an antidote, its history and its use in Christie's works and in real life ... This is an absolutely bravura chemical compound. * Booklist *If you are coming to Agatha Christie's work for the first time, an avid fan, have an interest in crime or toxicology, or just like being taken on an adventure through time, A is for Arsenic is a must read. * Chemistry World *A killing read that combines scientific expertise with fan-based knowledge. * Saga *Table of Contents1. Dame Agatha’s Deadly Dispensary 2. A is for Arsenic – Murder is Easy 3. B is for Belladonna – The Labours of Hercules 4. C is for Cyanide – Sparkling Cyanide 5. D is for Digitalis – Appointment with Death 6. E is for Eserine – Crooked House 7. H is for Hemlock – Five Little Pigs 8. M is for Monkshood – 4:50 from Paddington 9. N is for Nicotine – Three Act Tragedy 10. O is for Opium – Sad Cypress 11. P is for Phosphorus – Dumb Witness 12. R is for Ricin – Partners in Crime 13. S is for Strychnine – The Mysterious Affair at Styles 14. T is for Thallium – The Pale Horse 15. V is for Veranol – Lord Edgware Dies Appendix Glossary Bibliography

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Book SynopsisA Sherlock Holmes Escape Book: The Adventure of the Analytical Engine is a unique form of puzzle book, in which the reader must solve the riddles to escape the pages. The third title in this ingenious series of Sherlock Holmes Escape Books, The Adventure of the Analytical Engine is an exhilarating combination of escape room, puzzle book and adventure story. Inspired by the urban craze for escape rooms, where players tackle puzzles while trapped in a locked room, it is an escape room in the form of a locked book, filled with codes, ciphers, riddles and red herrings, and a clever Code Wheel set into the cover. In this new adventure, readers will take on the role of the world’s foremost consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, snared at the centre of a cunning plot, after receiving a mysterious letter from beyond the grave. Intrigued by an invitation from mathematician Charles Babbage to view his newly completed pioneering contraption, Holmes becomes imprisoned in a magnificent London villa, where tricks, traps and illusions aim to divert him from uncovering the true purpose of the reimagined Analytical Engine. Combines riddles, logic puzzles, timed challenges, mathematical brain-teasers, maps and mazes.

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Book Synopsis_______________ Delve behind the scenes and learn the secrets of the making of this epic wizarding world video game, Hogwarts Legacy The Art and Making of Hogwarts Legacy takes readers on a journey through the creation of the immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books and the films. Go beyond the game via exclusive interviews with the development team, stunning concept sketches, renders and illustrations to really explore the creation of this unique take on a beloved world. ORIGINAL CONCEPT ART: Includes many never-before-seen pieces of beautiful concept art used to craft compelling wizarding world locations from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade, Gringotts and more. EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: Hear from the development team on the process of creating this exciting chapter in the history of the wizarding world. PEOPLE, PLACES AND MAGIC: Get an in-depth look at the compelling characters, detailed environments and amazing magic system that bring Hogwarts Legacy to life. GO BEHIND THE GAME: Filled with behind-the-scenes fun facts and information about the game-making process, from crafting the setting to developing the gameplay – see the incredible work and talent that go into creating such an immersive gaming experience. THE PERFECT COMPANION TO THE GAME: This beautiful volume is an ideal collectable for gamers and fans of the wizarding world.

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Book SynopsisThis is the second title in a series of Sherlock Holmes Escape Books: a unique, new form of puzzle book, in which the reader must solve the puzzles to escape the pages. Inspired by the urban craze for escape rooms, where players tackle challenges while trapped in a locked room, this is an escape room in the form of a locked book: filled with codes, ciphers, riddles and red herrings, plus an ingenious Hieroglyphic Code Wheel set into the cover. Taking on the role of Sherlock Holmes, in this new adventure readers find themselves trapped with Watson in the Enlightenment Gallery of the British Museum after a curator collapses in the Egyptian Collection. With Edward VII due to arrive at the nearby tube station, and rumours of an anarchist plot, Holmes and Watson must find their way through the museum, and fathom the involvement of both Mycroft and Colonel Sebastian Moran, if they are to win their freedom and save the day.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe all-encompassing DC Comics Encyclopedia (new edish) can seem dauntingly dense, but dispenses vital clarity on 80 years of infinite continuities * Total Film *

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Book SynopsisFrom Blizzard Entertainment, the makers of critically acclaimed games such as Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo comes this exciting companion edition to Diablo III: Book of Cain, giving fans an in-depth look into the mind of Tyrael.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the man behind the moustache in this book of one-liners by the world's most famous Belgian detective, revealing the wit and wisdom of Hercule Poirot and his creator, Agatha Christie. A perfect stocking-filler for every Christie fan, to help celebrate her 125th birthday.My name is Hercule Poirot and I am probably the greatest detective in the world.'The dapper, moustache-twirling little Belgian with the egg-shaped head, curious mannerisms and inordinate respect for his own little grey cells' solved some of the twentieth century's most puzzling crimes. But what do we really know about the eccentric genius underneath that fussy façade?Sometimes funny, often profound, and always revealing, this book of quotes and comments, from more than 50 Poirot novels and short stories, gives an entertaining glimpse of the man behind the moustache, and the wit and wisdom of the Queen of Crime who created him.Includes an exclusive essay by Agatha Christie from the archives on her love/hate relatTrade Review‘As usual, the little man has the last word!’—Agatha Christie, 1938

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Book SynopsisFrom the very first book publication in 1920 to the recent film release of Death on the Nile, this investigation into Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot celebrates a century of probably the world's favourite fictional detective.This book tells his story decade-by-decade, exploring his appearances not only in the original novels, short stories and plays but also across stage, screen and radio productions.Poirot has had near-permanent presence in the public eye ever since the 1920 publication of The Mysterious Affair at Styles. From character development, publication history and private discussion concerning the original stories themselves, to early forays on to the stage and screen, the story of Poirot is as fascinating as it is enduring.Based on the author's original research, review excerpts and original Agatha Christie correspondence, Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World is a lively and accessible history of the character, offering new information and helpful pieces of context, that will delight all Agatha Christie fans, from a new generation of readers to those already highly familiar with the canon.Trade Review‘Delightful, detailed and compulsively readable.’ MARK GATISS ‘What a magnificent book! An essential component of every Poirot fan's book collection. I couldn't put it down.’ SOPHIE HANNAH ‘Exhaustively and entertainingly surveys the book, stage, radio, magazine and film appearances of that fussy little Belgian.’ MICHAEL DIRDA, WASHINGTON POST 'This quirky, trivia-filled look at a touchstone of detective fiction will have Christie fans young and old in heaven.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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Book SynopsisRaghu is haunted by his past with Brahmi, but finds an unexpected connection with Advaita who is determined to break down his walls and heal his heart. Love and heartache intertwine as they navigate their complicated feelings and past traumas.

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Book SynopsisFrom the very first book publication in 1920 to the upcoming film release of Death on the Nile, this investigation into Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot celebrates a century of probably the world's favourite fictional detective.This book tells his story decade-by-decade, exploring his appearances not only in the original novels, short stories and plays but also across stage, screen and radio productions. The hardback edition includes more than 400 illustrations.Poirot has had near-permanent presence in the public eye ever since the 1920 publication of The Mysterious Affair at Styles. From character development, publication history and private discussion concerning the original stories themselves, to early forays on to the stage and screen, the story of Poirot is as fascinating as it is enduring.Based on the author's original research, review excerpts and original Agatha Christie correspondence, Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World is a lively and accessible history of the character, offering new information and helpful pieces of context, that will delight all Agatha Christie fans, from a new generation of readers to those already highly familiar with the canon.Trade Review‘Delightful, detailed and compulsively readable.’ MARK GATISS ‘What a magnificent book! An essential component of every Poirot fan's book collection. I couldn't put it down.’ SOPHIE HANNAH ‘Exhaustively and entertainingly surveys the book, stage, radio, magazine and film appearances of that fussy little Belgian.’ MICHAEL DIRDA, WASHINGTON POST 'This quirky, trivia-filled look at a touchstone of detective fiction will have Christie fans young and old in heaven.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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Book SynopsisA stunning companion to Elly Griffiths' beloved crime series, the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries, and a photographic journey through magical Norfolk.Norfolk, a land of peaceful broads, marshy fens, sprawling coastline and shady brecks, is the home of Dr Ruth Galloway, forensic archaeologist. A place steeped in folklore and history, visibly shaped by the lives of those who have come before, it has become an integral character in Elly Griffiths' bestselling crime series.In this book Elly takes us through a year in the Norfolk landscape, featuring the fascinating locations that have inspired her series and her writing. From seascapes to farmlands, wetlands to woodlands, churches to cottages, this beautiful book captures Norfolk in all its glorious variety and is the perfect gift for any Elly Griffiths fan.

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Book SynopsisDr. Chris Kempshall is an historian focusing on the First World War and popular representations of warfare. He currently teaches courses on history and war at the Bader International Study Centre and is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Army Leadership, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

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Book SynopsisDelve deeper into the dark fantasy world of the Diablo universe as Deckard Cain shares history and lore in this fictional illustrated journal.

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Book Synopsis100 Marvel comics that built a universe.Which comic books have helped define Marvel Comics and make them the pop-culture phenomenon they are today? Find out in Marvel Greatest Comics, a compelling showcase of some of the most trailblazing and inspiring comic books ever created. From the groundbreaking original Human Torch and his aquatic adversary Namor, the Sub-Mariner in 1939 to the game-changing 1960s Super Hero icons such as Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four, to smart modern makeovers in the 21st century like Guardians of the Galaxy and Squirrel Girl, Marvel have set the pace.This book''s specially curated and expertly appraised selection is a stunningly illustrated and insightful assessment of Marvel Comics and its legacy through the comics that made the company great. These are the comics that changed the face of an industry. These are Marvel''s greatest comics. 2020 MARVEL

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Book SynopsisIn this book, the pompous and self-important Abbot spots a chance to take part in that Holy Grail of Bridge - the Bermuda Bowl world championships. Casting all ethics aside, he pursues this dream. Partnered by the Parrot, with the Witchdoctor, Mbozi, Mrs Okoku and Miss Nabooba as team-mates, he travels to India''s Chennai and faces many of the world''s real-life players.Regular followers of David Bird''s work will know what to expect - a first-rate mixture of amazing bridge, entertaining characters and sparkling dialogue.

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Book SynopsisHere you will find a Compendium to all Knowledge, and a sure means of ensuring fertility of crops & livestock, also a boon companion in affairs of the HEART & HEALTH, with notes on Husbandry, Physic, Fairs & Marts, and other such information as will render this Publication a staunch companion to Townsman & Tiller of Soil alike.Trade ReviewWhere would we be without it? -- Havelock VetinariA good stiff cardboard cover that will provide a whole month of inner soles, and soft paper inside, truly a boon for the working man -- Bernard PearsonBetter read than dead -- Reg Shoe, Fresh Start Club, 668 Elm St, Ankh-MorporkWith thys Almanak as my gide my every venture is bound to prosper -- C.M.O.T. Dibbler

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Book SynopsisTerry Pratchett (Author) Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any. www.terrypratchettbooks.comIan Stewart (Author) Professor Ian Stewart is the author of many popular science books. He is the mathematics consultant for New Scientist and a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick. He was awarded the Michael Faraday Prize for furthering the public understanding of science, and in 2001 became a Fellow of the Royal Society.Jack Cohen (Author) Dr Jack Cohen is an internationally-known reproductive biologist, and lives in Newent, Gloucestershire. Jack has a laboratory in his kitchen, helps couples get pregnant by referring them to colleagues, invents biologically realistic aliens for science fiction writers and, in his spare time, throws boomerangs. Jack, who has more letters to his name than can be repeated here, writes, lectures, talks and campaigns to promote public awareness of science, particularly biology. He is mostly retired.Trade ReviewThe hard science is as gripping as the fiction * The Times *An irreverent but genuinely profound romp through the history and philosophy of science, cunningly disguised as a collection of funny stories about wizards and mobile luggage. More that that, it offers a fresh look at the place that humans hold in the history of the planet -- Richard Wentk * Frontiers *

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Book SynopsisIan Stewart (Author) Professor Ian Stewart is the author of many popular science books. He is the mathematics consultant for New Scientist and a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Warwick. He was awarded the Michael Faraday Prize for furthering the public understanding of science, and in 2001 became a Fellow of the Royal Society.Terry Pratchett (Author) Terry Pratchett was the acclaimed creator of the global bestselling Discworld series, the first of which, The Colour of Magic, was published in 1983. In all, he was the author of over fifty bestselling books which have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. His novels have been widely adapted for stage and screen, and he was the winner of multiple prizes, including the Carnegie Medal. He was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in 2009, although he always wryly maintained that his greatest service to literature was to avoid writing any. www.terrypratchettbooks.comJack Cohen (Author) Dr Jack Cohen is an internationally-known reproductive biologist, and lives in Newent, Gloucestershire. Jack has a laboratory in his kitchen, helps couples get pregnant by referring them to colleagues, invents biologically realistic aliens for science fiction writers and, in his spare time, throws boomerangs. Jack, who has more letters to his name than can be repeated here, writes, lectures, talks and campaigns to promote public awareness of science, particularly biology. He is mostly retired.Trade ReviewSuperb, neatly fulfilling its goal of introducing science without being boring or didactic. This is a genuinely mind-expanding and very funny book. * Good Book Guide *Entertaining, instructive and illuminating * New Scientist *

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Book SynopsisA philosophical exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien''s beloved classicjust in time for the December 2012 release of Peter Jackson''s new film adaptation, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey J.R.R. Tolkien''s The Hobbit is one of the best-loved fantasy books of all time and the enchanting prequel to The Lord of the Rings. With the help of some of history''s great philosophers, this book ponders a host of deep questions raised in this timeless tale, such as: Are adventures simply nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things that make you late for dinner, or are they exciting and potentially life-changing events? What duties do friends have to one another? Should mercy be extended even to those who deserve to die? Gives you new insights into The Hobbit''s central characters, including Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, Gollum, and Thorin and their exploits, from the Shire through Mirkwood to the Lonely Mountain Explores key questions about TheTrade Review"The value in this approach, of course, is that these essays are simple; they are incredibly short (each runs about five pages), and they are clear and accessible." (Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts, 1 February 2015) "Gregory Bassham and Eric Bronson's anthology of essays, 'The Hobbit and Philosophy', may have an overblown title, but the authors do a good job of focusing on themes like possessiveness, providence and free will, courage and decision-making." (The Times Literary Supplement, 21 December 2012) Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Thag You Very Buch x Introduction: Never Laugh at Live Philosophers 1 Gregory Bassham and Eric Bronson PART ONE DISCOVER YOUR INNER TOOK 1 The Adventurous Hobbit 7 Gregory Bassham 2 “The Road Goes Ever On and On”: A Hobbit’s Tao 20 Michael C. Brannigan 3 Big Hairy Feet: A Hobbit’s Guide to Enlightenment 32 Eric Bronson 4 Bilbo Baggins: The Cosmopolitan Hobbit 45 Dennis Knepp PART TWO THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE SLIMY 5 The Glory of Bilbo Baggins 61 Charles Taliaferro and Craig Lindahl-Urben 6 Pride and Humility in The Hobbit 74 Laura Garcia 7 “My Precious”: Tolkien on the Perils of Possessiveness 90 Anna Minore and Gregory Bassham 8 Tolkien’s Just War 103 David Kyle Johnson 9 “Pretty Fair Nonsense”: Art and Beauty in The Hobbit 118 Philip Tallon 10 Hobbitus Ludens: Why Hobbits Like to Play and Why We Should, Too 129 David L. O’Hara PART THREE RIDDLES AND RINGS 11 “The Lord of Magic and Machines”: Tolkien on Magic and Technology 147 W. Christopher Stewart 12 Inside The Hobbit: Bilbo Baggins and the Paradox of Fiction 161 Amy Kind 13 Philosophy in the Dark: The Hobbit and Hermeneutics 176 Tom Grimwood PART FOUR BEING THERE AND BACK AGAIN 14 Some Hobbits Have All the Luck 193 Randall M. Jensen 15 The Consolation of Bilbo: Providence and Free Will in Middle-Earth 206 Grant Sterling 16 Out of the Frying Pan: Courage and Decision Making in Wilderland 218 Jamie Carlin Watson 17 There and Back Again: A Song of Innocence and Experience 235 Joe Kraus CONTRIBUTORS: Our Most Excellent and Audacious Contributors 251 INDEX: The Moon Letters 257

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive and compelling guide to Suzanne Collins's bestselling young-adult, dystopian trilogy The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Already a publishing phenomenon to rival Harry Potter (over 50 million copies sold), there are three sequels to the 2012 blockbuster movie of The Hunger Games scheduled for release between 2013 and 2015; Mockingjay Part 1 is due to be released in November 2014. Robb explores the inspiration behind the books, the author, the themes and influences of the three books, the movie adaptations and their cultural impact, the books' legacy and spin-offs. Suzanne Collins has created a series of characters and situations that have struck a chord not only with the target audience of teenagers, but which have also drawn in adult readers, making the series second only to Harry Potter in National Public Radio's popular poll of the Top 100 Teen Novels.Inspired when flicking TV channels between a reality television entertainment show and

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Book SynopsisThe Time Lords are an immensely civilised, and immensely powerful, race. Yet we know very little about them, save that they can live forever (barring accidents) and possess the secrets of space and time travel. Their history has been shrouded in myth and mystery. Until now.A Brief History of Time Lords unlocks the secrets of this ancient, legendary alien race - a civilisation that inflicted some of its most notorious renegades and criminals on the universe, but was also the benevolent power that rid the cosmos of its most fearsome enemies. Drawn from the ancient records of Gallifrey, and handed down from generation to generation, this remarkable book reveals the Time Lords in all of their guises: pioneers and power-mad conspirators, time-travellers and tyrants, creators and destroyers. Be careful who you share it with.

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Book SynopsisWritten by award-winning crime writer and president of the Detection Club, Martin Edwards, this book tracks the history of classic crime fiction and serves as a companion to the British Library's internationally acclaimed series of Crime Classics.

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Book SynopsisFrances Harper’s fourth novel follows the life of the beautiful, light-skinned Iola Leroy to tell the story of black families in slavery, during the Civil War, and after Emancipation. Iola Leroy adopts and adapts three genres that commanded significant audiences in the nineteenth century: the sentimental romance, the slave narrative, and plantation fiction. Written by the foremost black woman activist of the nineteenth century, the novel sheds light on the movements for abolition, public education, and voting rights through a compelling narrative. This edition engages the latest research on Harper’s life and work and offers ways to teach these major moments in United States history by centering the experiences of African Americans. The appendices provide primary documents that help readers do what they are seldom encouraged to do: consider the experiences and perspectives of people who are not white. The Introduction traces Harper’s biography and the changing critical perspectives on the novel. Trade Review“Edited by one of the finest scholars of American literature, this Broadview edition of the much beloved, popular nineteenth-century classic Iola Leroy commands new attention and demonstrates fresh relevance. Koritha Mitchell elegantly argues for the merits of this early novel as an African American community text, based on its aesthetic qualities, the political currents that shaped it, and the material realities of its production, circulation, and readership. Appendices of thoughtfully curated secondary sources that privilege the firsthand testimonies of early African Americans about emancipatory, intellectual, social, and cultural matters, and that feature more creative and critical selections by Harper, bring distinction to this teachable, accessible edition. If one wishes to understand how the aftermath of enslavement has influenced and continues to shape the African American literary tradition and national conversations among and about African Americans, the Broadview edition of Iola Leroy is a necessary place to begin.” — Barbara McCaskill, University of Georgia“Koritha Mitchell gives us the definitive edition of Iola Leroy, a novel that reflects the mature insight and creative prowess of teacher, activist, and writer Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Readers are guided through this compelling saga of post–Civil War race, gender, class, and politics by Mitchell’s patient, expert hand. Her original interpretations are enriched by careful attention to the important debates that have always surrounded Harper’s work. Return to this edition again and again to discover the many meanings embedded in Iola Leroy and in Harper’s gifted prose.” — Martha S. Jones, Johns Hopkins University“Koritha Mitchell’s Broadview Press edition is a triumph and a gift to the field. Her critical work in this volume ensures that generations of readers will recognize the novel as a touchstone in their literary educations and imaginations.… Like all the best critical and cultural editions, it serves as a model for the kind of scholarship we want to write and help our students to write. The contextual materials that bookend Mitchell’s introduction and the novel itself serve not only as citations for her critical throughlines but also as an invitation to readers to be more aware of how they read texts through one another. Mitchell has produced an unparalleled resource that positions Iola Leroy as a definitive text, and her editorial provocation urges us to keep reading, rereading, and reconsidering this novel.” —Mollie Barnes, Legacy“Koritha Mitchell’s new cultural edition of Harper’s fourth novel, Iola Leroy; Or, Shadows of Uplift (first published in 1892), provides a compelling new entry in this tradition and an indispensable resource for those who assign Harper regularly or who have hesitated to teach Iola out of concern for the syllabus space required to get students up to speed on its historical and cultural contexts. Mitchell’s introduction on its own is worth the price of admission, as it synthesizes the latest work in Harper studies and situates Iola within it. … In addition to her biographical and bibliographic work, Mitchell offers a fresh take on Iola’s form and politics. Iola, Mitchell posits, ‘exemplifies the dynamism and complexity of … “community conversation” … the broad, dynamic discussions among African Americans about the countless issues affecting community members’ life chances and well-being’ (30). Throughout, Mitchell foregrounds Harper’s abiding faith in black communities and incisive critiques of white supremacy.…“Mitchell’s critical apparatus speaks to previous scholars’ monumental efforts to make Harper studies a robust field. It speaks also to an ethics of citation that should be emulated. This cultural edition offers the nineteenth century in a box, robust enough to anchor a course in which Iola represents either the ‘early’ or ‘late’ text. Mitchell’s attention to the intersections of form, literary history, and politics make it an ideal edition for graduate seminars, exam lists, and research, as well.” — Derrick R. Spires, African American ReviewTable of Contents Appendix A: Slavery, Civil War & Emancipation, Reconstruction & Its Demise 1. Fugitive Slave Act (1850) 2. United States Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney, The Dred Scott Decision (1857) 3. First Confiscation Act (1861) 4. Second Confiscation Act (1862) 5. The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) 6. The Freedmen's Bureau Act (1865) 7. The Thirteenth Amendment (1865) 8. The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) 9. The Fifteenth Amendment (1870) 10. The Compromise of 1877 11. United States Supreme Court Justice Billings Brown, Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Appendix B: Not White? Then, You Can't Be Equal 1. 1. Abraham Lincoln, Address on Colonization to a Deputation of Negroes (1862) 2. 2. Frances Harper, ""Mrs. Frances E. Watkins Harper on the War and the President's 3. Colonization Scheme"" (1862) 4. 3. Michigan Supreme Court Justice James Campbell, The People v. Dean (1866) Appendix C: Black Families in Slavery and Freedom 1. From Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass… (1845) 2. Dictated Letter, from enslaved husband to wife when separated by owner 3. Dictated Letter, from enslaved husband to wife when separated by owner 4. Dictated letter, from enslaved wife to husband when separated by owner 5. ""Arrest of Fugitive Slaves,"" Cincinnati Gazette (29 January 1856) 6. Frances Harper, ""The Slave Mother: A Tale of Ohio"" (1857) 7. Testimony about enslaved men and women who escaped slavery to join the Union 8. effort and often planned to return to help family members escape (1863) 9. Letter from a black soldier to his children (1864) 10. Letter from a black soldier to the owner of one of his daughters (1864) 11. Notices in hopes of finding lost loved ones after Emancipation a. From Colored Tennessean (Nashville) (24 March 1866) b. From Christian Recorder (24 March 1866) c. From Christian Recorder (28 January 1871) d. From Southwestern Christian Advocate (17 July 1879) e. From Christian Recorder (5 October 1882) f. From Christian Recorder (3 January 1884) g. From Loyal Georgian (Augusta, Ga.) (13 October 1886) h. From Christian Recorder (6 January 1893) Appendix D: Education in Slavery and Freedom 1. A law making the education of enslaved people illegal 2. Account about an enslaved woman who ran a midnight school 3. Account of teaching/learning in secret during slavery 4. An account of finding the spark for learning while enslaved 5. Accounts of the consequences of learning to read and write 6. Account of black soldiers wanting education 7. Account of recently emancipated people's eagerness to learn 8. Testimony on KKK preventing school attendance after Emancipation Appendix E: Preventing Freedom Even After Emancipation 1. Laws constraining black girls and boys via apprenticeship and African Americans of every age via vagrancy statutes (1865) 2. Testimony about KKK raping black women whose husbands/fathers voted (1871) 3. From Henry W. Grady, ""The Race Problem in the South"" (1889) 4. From Ida B. Wells, The Red Record: Tabulated Statistics and Alleged Causes of Lynching in the United States (1895) Appendix F: Black Women's Activism 1. Frances Harper, ""We Are All Bound Up Together"" (1866) 2. Frances Harper, ""Aunt Chloe's Politics"" (1872) 3. Frances Harper, ""Colored Women of America"" (1878) 4. Frances Harper, ""The Women's Christian Temperance Union and the Colored Woman"" (1888) 5. Frances Harper, ""Enlightened Motherhood: An Address … Before the Brooklyn Literary Society"" (15 November 1892) 6. Fannie Barrier Williams, ""The Intellectual Progress of The Colored Women of the United States Since The Emancipation Proclamation"" (1893) Appendix G: Being Black and a Woman: Aesthetics and Reception 1. William J. Watkins, ""The Reformer"" (1854) 2. Grace Greenwood, Impressions of Harper as a speaker (1866) 3. From Anna Julia Cooper, ""The Status of Woman in America"" (1892) 4. ""Publications Reviewed,"" Christian Recorder (12 January 1893) 5. ""Review 1,"" The Independent (5 January 1893) 6. Richmond Planet (21 January1893) 7. ""Recent Fiction,"" The Nation (23 February 1893) 8. From ""Our Book List,"" The A.M.E. Church Review (April 1893) 9. ""Book Review,"" Friends' Review; a Religious, Literary and Miscellaneous Journal (22 June 1893) 10. Review of Reviews (January 1895) 11. ""Recent Fiction,"" The Independent (29 October 1896) 12. Edward Elmore Brock, ""Brock's Literary Leaves,"" Freeman (Indianapolis) (14 August 1897) 13. [W.E.B. Du Bois], ""Writers,"" Crisis (April 1911)

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Book SynopsisBridget Jones for a new generation: fresh, modern, laugh-out-loud commercial women's fiction.Trade ReviewHilarious and heartwarming * Closer *Hilarious * Bella *Lucy Vine turned the rom-com genre on its head * Cosmopolitan *A bawdy breath of fresh air * Sunday Mirror *Utterly addictive and utterly charming...her best yet * Daisy Buchanan *Warning: read this book and you will doubtless snort with laughter in inappropriate public places. Quite simply, #brilliant * Ella Dove *'Her best work yet: it's funnier, it's more tender... You need to have this with you in your beach bag' -- Laura Jane WilliamsI tore through this quicker than a duty-free Toblerone. Wickedly funny and so painfully perceptive, it's the perfect antidote to all the #blessed wanderlust filling up your Instagram feed -- Lauren BravoHilarious and touching -- Louise O'NeillReally, really funny, but also kind of heart wrenching -- Sophie KinsellaFeel-good . . . we didn't want it to end * Heat *

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Book SynopsisInside Bridgerton is the intimate behind-the-scenes story of the hit Shondaland series on Netflix, from Shondaland executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers. Full-colour and beautifully designed, Inside Bridgerton is the official book about the show, and includes never before seen photographs, first-hand accounts on casting, insight into the decisions behind the costumes and sets, directors'' accounts on shooting your favourite scenes, and more from the creative minds that launched a cultural phenomenon.Shondaland executive producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers offer exclusive insights, and introduce you to the series writers, producers, directors, cast, crew and talented creatives who brought Julia Quinn''s beloved novels to the screen.

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Book SynopsisHow do you find a book when you can't recall the title or author? This homage to a common reader's dilemma is a gift the booklover in your life won't soon forget.

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Book SynopsisHow does magic in J. K. Rowling’s universe work? Finally, the scientific secrets are revealed! The story of the boy who lived has brought the idea of magic and sorcery into mainstream fruition more than any other book series in history. Modern muggle scientists have uncovered explanations to the seemingly impossible, including answers to such questions as: Will we ever see an invisibility cloak? How hazardous is a flying broomstick like the Nimbus 2000? How has medicine made powerful potions from peculiar plants? (Felix Felicis, anyone?) Can scientists ever demonstrate Wingardium Leviosa, or the flying power of a Golden Snitch? Is it possible to stupefy someone? And many more! A perfect Harry Potter gift for anyone obsessed enough to stand in line to be the first to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child or Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, witches and wizards alike will be fascinated by the merging of this improbable realm and real science.Trade ReviewPraise for Mark Brake and Jon Chase’s The Science of Star Wars“If you’ve ever wondered how life could arise on Tatooine or how likely it is that there’s a cantina full of aliens somewhere in our galaxy, The Science of Star Wars is for you.”—San Francisco Book Review“A real treat, with many moments of epiphany lurking between the pages . . . Offers much more than just the scientific facts.”—Labtimes“A gloriously fascinating look into that galaxy far, far away!”—Professor Lewis Dartnell, University of Westminster, New York Times bestselling author of The Knowledge“As a longtime Star Wars maniac, I’d like to recommend Mark Brake and Jon Chase’s The Science of Star Wars: The Scientific Facts Behind the Force, Space Travel, and More! for the geek on your Christmas list. The book is divided into sections on space travel, space, aliens, tech, and bio-tech, with each addressing the scientific feasibility of the Star Wars universe, from faster than light travel to the nature of the Force itself. Written in a clear, friendly style, reading The Science of Star Wars is like sitting down for a conversation with a super geeky scientist friend.”—Unbound Worlds“Using the basic principles of mathematics and science, author Mark Brake and science presenter Jon Chase have unlocked some of the secrets behind the George Lucas films, and have concluded that The Force might not be complete fantasy.”—Telegraph“A fairly easy read in the sense that simple language is used to explain what can at times be fairly complex concepts . . . It’s certainly best enjoyed by anyone with a bent towards the stars and how they stay up there. . . . For the right fan, it would be an excellent Christmas present.”—In a Far Away GalaxyPraise for Mark Brake and Jon Chase’s The Science of Star Wars“If you’ve ever wondered how life could arise on Tatooine or how likely it is that there’s a cantina full of aliens somewhere in our galaxy, The Science of Star Wars is for you.”—San Francisco Book Review“A real treat, with many moments of epiphany lurking between the pages . . . Offers much more than just the scientific facts.”—Labtimes“A gloriously fascinating look into that galaxy far, far away!”—Professor Lewis Dartnell, University of Westminster, New York Times bestselling author of The Knowledge“As a longtime Star Wars maniac, I’d like to recommend Mark Brake and Jon Chase’s The Science of Star Wars: The Scientific Facts Behind the Force, Space Travel, and More! for the geek on your Christmas list. The book is divided into sections on space travel, space, aliens, tech, and bio-tech, with each addressing the scientific feasibility of the Star Wars universe, from faster than light travel to the nature of the Force itself. Written in a clear, friendly style, reading The Science of Star Wars is like sitting down for a conversation with a super geeky scientist friend.”—Unbound Worlds“Using the basic principles of mathematics and science, author Mark Brake and science presenter Jon Chase have unlocked some of the secrets behind the George Lucas films, and have concluded that The Force might not be complete fantasy.”—Telegraph“A fairly easy read in the sense that simple language is used to explain what can at times be fairly complex concepts . . . It’s certainly best enjoyed by anyone with a bent towards the stars and how they stay up there. . . . For the right fan, it would be an excellent Christmas present.”—In a Far Away Galaxy

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Book Synopsis''The Dictionary of Crime is now the first book I reach for when beginning a new novel. An essential resource, it''s packed with explanations, insider information, contemporary and historical slang, as well as some downright bizarre laws and practices. It''s funny, fascinating and a damn good read''M. W CRAVEN, winner of the 2019 Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year for The Puppet Show''A really good idea . . . executed neatly to come up with the perfect gift for crime lovers'' MAT COWARD, Morning Star''I found myself rolling around in it for hours, like a gangster''s moll on a bed full of money. Sheer delight!'' CATRIONA McPHERSON''Where was this book when I started writing? From Aconite to the Zodiac Killer is the essential companion for any serious reader or writer of crime''LEYE ADENLE, author of When Trouble Sleeps''A fascinaTrade ReviewThe Dictionary of Crime is now the first book I reach for when beginning a new novel. An essential resource, it's packed with explanations, insider information, contemporary and historical slang, as well as some downright bizarre laws and practices. It's funny, fascinating and a damn good read. -- M. W. Craven, winner of the 2019 Crime Writers Association Gold Dagger for best crime novel of the year for The Puppet ShowUS gang slang, UK prison slang, spy jargon, acronyms and more - From Aconite to Zodiac Killer: A Dictionary of Crime was perhaps conceived as a useful reference volume where facts could be checked with speed and efficiency (which they can), but I found myself rolling around in it for hours, like a gangster's moll on a bed full of money. Sheer delight!Catriona McPherson -- Catriona McPhersonA fascinating compendium of crime facts which should be on the shelves of every crime writer - and every crime reader. -- Simon BrettThis is a dangerous book in so many ways. It is chock full of information on ways of killing people, from undetectable poisons (amongst them the aconite of the title) to various types of guns (the Glock 17 9mm pistol comes highly recommended). It contains riveting accounts of notorious murderers across continents and across the ages. It is crammed with fascinating details of slang, thieves' cant, and gang language. It has precise particulars of police procedures. It is, in fact, the perfect gift for any true crime enthusiast, and an indispensable guide for all crime fiction writers. -- S. W. Williams, author of Small Deaths and How to Write Crime FictionPraise for the author: Sparklingly funny and painfully sharp throughout. * The Times *Praise for the author:A charming turn of phrase that gets you giggling out loud. * Best *Praise for the author:Great fun and easy to read. * B magazine *Praise for the author:You can guarantee that Amanda Lees's books, like her own life, will never be boring. * Hello *Praise for the author:The author succeeds in engaging the reader, both through some page-turning suspense but also via a lightness of touch in the writing. * Lovereading *Where was this book when I started writing? From Aconite to the Zodiac Killer is the essential companion for any serious reader or writer of crime. -- Leye Adenle, author of When Trouble SleepsA remarkable achievement. At once elucidating and compelling, indispensable and unputdownable. It reads like a page-turning thriller. Whether a crime writer who needs to distinguish a blood agent from a bum beef or a reader with an interest in queer coal makers, this lexicon will keep you hooked, and leave you sublimely informed. -- Gary Donnelly, author of Killing in Your Name and Blood Will Be Born'Fascinating, insightful and taking up permanent residency on my desk. Amanda Lees' Dictionary of Crime is my new bible!' -- Chris Whitaker, award-winning author of Tall Oaks, All The Wicked Girls and We Begin at the End'What a little gem this is ­- such a great idea and a valuable resource for writers. I found myself dipping into it at intervals and marvelling at the extent of the research that's gone into it, as well as chuckling over some of the more unusual entries. My personal favourites? BINGO seat, nicker, moll buzzer and lully-prigger. Wouldn't have had a clue what they meant . . . but I'm determined to work them in somewhere in a future novel!' -- G. J. Minett, author of The Syndicate'A fascinating journey through the dark side of the human psyche. Highly recommended for anyone interested in criminals and crime' -- Patrick Redmond, bestselling author of The Wishing Game[J]am-packed with all manner of information . . . a must buy . . . [a] brilliant resource and one that every writer and reader should have on their shelves. -- James Pierson, writer, journalist and book bloggerA really good idea . . . executed neatly to come up with the perfect gift for crime lovers. -- MAT COWARD * Morning Star *

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Book SynopsisFrom Voltaire to Verlaine and from Hugo to Hemingway, these are the Paris locations that have influenced modern literature.The book is an elegant photographic stroll around the bookshops, famous literary restaurants and storied streets of Europe's favourite tourist destination.Literary Landscapes: Paris takes this major European city and with picture perfect photography, compiles an album of memorable views linked to the words of Parisian authors, or writers who made Paris their home. It looks at places where books were written, discussed over dinner, and where ultimately the books are sold.There are the theatres of Molière, Dumas and Beaumarchais along with the incredible Palais Garnier opera house and the legend of Le Fantome by Gaston Leroux.There are the revered bookshops of the Latin Quarter including the idiosyncratic Shakespeare & Co.There are the classic grand structures referenced in Victor Hugo novels (and still there) or the mean streets of George Orwell's Down and Out in Pa

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Book SynopsisHilary Spurling won the Rose Mary Crawshay Prize for The Early Life of Ivy Compton-Burnett 1884-1919, and the Duff Cooper Prize and Heinemann Award for Secrets of a Woman's Heart: The Later Life of Ivy Compton-Burnett 1920-1969. She is also the author of Elinor Fettiplace's Receipt Book, Paper Spirits and The Girl from the Fiction Department: A Portrait of Sonia Orwell. She has been Arts and Literary Editor of the Spectator, and a regular reviewer for the Observer, the New York Times and the Daily Telegraph.Trade ReviewHilary Spurling's exhaustive analysis of the novel's characters supplies a master-key for the reader -- Anthony Powell

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Book SynopsisMinal Sharma, MBA, seeks career success, love, and a cool guy, but faces challenges with her mother's matrimonial plans, a choice between a radio jockey and an oncologist, and a sabotaging colleague. Set in corporate intrigue, Piece of Cake is a romantic comedy with a complex female lead and a mischievous plot.

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Book SynopsisYuvika, Arnav, Kunal and Nandini, fun loving, irreverent youngsters, join medical school and bond over their first anatomy lesson.

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Book Synopsistaut, smart and visually charged ... There is no age bar for reading this collection' - Mid-day 'kaleidoscopic dance of images and remarkable powers of observation' - Deccan Herald

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