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Book SynopsisWe're not just losing the wild world. We're forgetting it. We're no longer noticing it. We've lost the habit of looking and seeing and listening and hearing. But we can make hidden things visible, and this book features 23 spellbinding ways to bring the magic of nature much closer to home.Mammals you never knew existed will enter your world. Birds hidden in treetops will shed their cloak of anonymity. With a single movement of your hand you can make reptiles appear before you. Butterflies you never saw before will bring joy to every sunny day. Creatures of the darkness will enter your consciousness. And as you take on new techniques and a little new equipment, you will discover new creatures and, with them, new areas of yourself that had gone dormant. Once put to use, they wake up and start working again. You become wilder in your mind and in your heart. Once you know the tricks, the wild world beginTrade Review'Rewild Yourself turns the [nature writing] genre upside down. Barnes tackles the issue of our disconnection with the wild from a much more pragmatic angle. It is not the land that should be rewilded, but us. This book has a spiritual, crusading quality. He writes as an uncle would to his nieces or nephews, encouraging them to enjoy his love of the outdoors... There is something here for anyone who is captivated by nature and wants to get closer... Essentially Rewild Yourself is about learning to be part of nature. This is such a simple, clever book.' -- Rosemary Goring * Herald *'Barnes urges us to pay closer attention to the natural world, sharing 23 tips and techniques to help us all, wherever we live, to broaden our horizons and enjoy the wonders of nature.' * Daily Express *'The perfect gift for both confirmed nature lovers, and those who want to discover the wild side…' * Lancashire Post *

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Book SynopsisDurable and waterproof, with a handy slipcase and an easy-fold format, Lonely Planet's New Zealand South Island Planning Map is your essential navigation tool. This full-colour map features accompanying images and information about top attractions, itinerary suggestions, a transport guide, themed lists and practical travel tips.

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Book SynopsisA complete guide to extracting vivid pigments from plants and making your own professional-grade paints with them. Natalie's colours stand out from the usual plant-dye inks, which fade over time. In the book she demonstrates the fundamental technique of how to make a lake, which binds to the inks and makes pigments that are lasting and vivid. These, in turn, give you inks, watercolours and pastels from across the spectrum that are perfect to use for your own artistic endeavours.

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Book Synopsis**SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER** **RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK** **WATERSTONES SCOTTISH BOOK OF THE MONTH**''An astonishing feat''Christina Patterson, Sunday Times''An inspiring and moving sideways look at history''Eithne Farry, Sunday Express An eloquent blend of history and memoir, Threads of Life is an evocative and moving book about the need we all have to tell our story.From political propaganda in medieval France to secret treason in Tudor England, from the mothers of the desaparecidos in Argentina to First World War soldiers with PTSD, from a POW camp in Singapore to a family attic in Scotland, Threads of Life is a global chronicle of identity, protest, memory and politics. Banner-maker, community textile artist and textile curator Clare Hunter chronicles the stories of the men and women, over centuries and across continents, who have used the language of sewing to make their voiTrade ReviewIt's an astonishing feat, this patchwork quilt of history, culture and politics, which takes us from Saxon England to colonised African tribes, Palestinian villages, rural China and the cramped homes of American slaves . . . Her highly impressive debut is a richly textured and moving record of a history that has largely being lost. -- Christina Patterson * Sunday Times *Triumphant . . . an inspiration to anyone who has ever thought of picking up a needle and thread. -- Jane Shilling * Mail on Sunday *Astonishing . . . Hunter studied creative writing and cleverly uses personal narrative to create a persona one will instantly like . . . so well written. * TLS *Fascinating * Daily Telegraph *A blend of history and memoir, the book roves across centuries and continents to reveal how sewing has played a crucial part in our lives - from courts and battlefields to prisons and drawing rooms... Many of the stories in Threads of Life are heart-breaking...This beautiful, moving book makes you want to rush out and grab a needle. -- Liz Hoggard * Radio Times *Enchanting * S Magazine *Enthralling... By unpicking the seams of the clothes on our backs, Clare Hunter has brought to light elements of history that have languished in our collective attic for far too long. Threadsof Life is a terrific book. -- Susan Flockhart * The Herald *Enthralling...beautiful... An inspiring and moving sideways look at history. -- Eithne Farry * Sunday Express *Threads of Life is a beautifully considered book that reminds us of how much sewing plays a crucial part in expressing the many facets of our lives. Clare Hunter has managed to mix the personal with the political with moving results. Reading it made me pick up my needle with a new perspective. -- Tracy ChevalierHunter's non-fiction debut reframes needlework as a powerful and political medium . . . Threads of Life is a compelling and beautifully written account of how marginalised peoples throughout history have used the language of sewing, embroidery and textiles to tell their neglected stories. -- Caroline Sanderson * The Bookseller *A rich and moving history of sewing and embroidery * Sunday Times (Culture) *A compelling account of how needlework has given a voice to the voiceless * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisIn rich and telling detail, Alistair Moffat relates the remarkable story of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The north is being renewed, the land is coming alive once more and this unique story ends on an upbeat note as the Highlands and Islands of Scotland look forward to a future of possibilities.

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Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES DESIGN BOOK OF THE YEAR_________________________________________The definitive guide to using the power of colour to improve your happiness, wellbeing and confidence.What if I told you that all around you is something that can increase your motivation and positively influence how you feel?It''s called colour.Building on over 20 years of experience, Applied Colour & Design Psychology Specialist Karen Haller puts this life-changing solution in your hands. With her unmatched expertise, she demonstrates the many practical ways in which you can use colour to transform your life. Whether you''re decorating an interior or revamping your wardrobe, get ready to be inspired by the possibilities to:- Create a home that reflects your personality- Grow your confidence in using colour- Add colour to your workplace- Choose clothes that express the true you- Find your unique colour palette & design compatibilityIn the first book that mixes the science, psychology and emotional impact of colour, Karen Haller takes you on a journey through rediscovering the joy of colour.

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Book SynopsisSlavoj Zizek, the maverick philosopher, author of over 30 books, acclaimed as the "Elvis of cultural theory", and today's most controversial public intellectual. His work traverses the fields of philosophy, psychoanalysis, theology, history and political theory, taking in film, popular culture, literature and jokes-all to provide acute analyses of the complexities of contemporary ideology as well as a serious and sophisticated philosophy. His recent films The Pervert's Guide to the Cinema and Zizek! reveal a theorist at the peak of his powers and a skilled communicator. Now Verso is making his classic titles, each of which stand as a core of his ever-expanding life's work, available as new editions. Each is beautifully re-packaged, including new introductions from Zizek himself. Simply put, they are the essential texts for understanding Zizek's thought and thus cornerstones of contemporary philosophy.The Sublime Object of Ideology: Slavoj Zizek's first book is a provocative and original work looking at the question of human agency in a postmodern world. In a thrilling tour de force that made his name, he explores the ideological fantasies of wholeness and exclusion which make up human society.Trade ReviewThe Elvis of cultural theory. * Chronicle of Higher Education *The giant of Ljubljana provides the best intellectual high since Anti-Oedipus. * The Village Voice *The most formidably brilliant exponent of psychoanalysis, indeed of cultural theory in general, to have emerged in many decades. -- Terry EagletonUnafraid of confrontation and with a near limitless grasp of pop symbolism * The Times *Zizek is a thinker who regards nothing as outside his field: the result is deeply interesting and provocative. * Guardian *Zizek is one of the few living writers to combine theoretical rigor with compulsive readability. * Publishers Weekly *Zizek leaves no social or cultural phenomenon untheorized, and is master of the counterintuitive observation * New Yorker *

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Book SynopsisA magisterial history of the greatest and most terrible event in history, from one of the finest historians of the Second World War. A book which shows the impact of war upon hundreds of millions of people around the world- soldiers, sailors and airmen; housewives, farm workers and children..Reflecting Max Hastings's thirty-five years of research on World War II, All Hell Let Loose describes the course of events, but focuses chiefly upon human experience, which varied immensely from campaign to campaign, continent to continent.The author emphasises the Russian front, where more than 90% of all German soldiers who perished met their fate. He argues that, while Hitler's army often fought its battles brilliantly well, the Nazis conducted their war effort with stunning incompetence'. He suggests that the Royal Navy and US Navy were their countries' outstanding fighting services, while the industrial contribution of the United States was much more important to allied victory than that of thTrade Review“This is the book he was born to write: a work of staggering scope and erudition, narrated with supreme fluency and insight, it is unquestionably the best single-volume history of the war ever written….. he writes with a wonderfully clear, unsentimental eye……and has a terrific grasp of the grand sweep and military strategy……But what makes his book a compelling read are the human stories……at the end of this gruesome, chilling but quite magnificent book, you never doubt that the war was worth fighting”. Sunday Times “No other general history of the war amalgamates so successfully the gut-wrenching personal details and the essential strategic arguments. Melding the worm’s eye view and the big picture is a difficult trick to pull of – but Hastings has triumphed”. The Times “majestic…it is impossible to emerge without a sense of the sheer scale of human tragedy…..To gather all these anecdotes together is a task in itself, but to assemble them in a way that makes sense is something entirely different….Hastings shapes all these stories, almost miraculously, into a single coherent narrative”. Daily Telegraph “In this massive work, the crowning volume of the 10 impressive books he has written about the Second World War, Sir Max Hastings spares us nothing in portraying the sheer bloody savagery of the worst war that the world has yet seen….this magnificent book….is hypnotically readable from the first page to the last”. Sunday Telegraph “A fast-moving, highly readable survey of the entire war…Hastings combines a mastery of the military events with invariably sound judgment and a sharp eye for unusual telling detail….this is military history at its most gripping. Of all Max Hastings’s valuable books, this is possibly his best – a veritable tour de force”. Evening Standard

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Book SynopsisDiscover the eerie beauty of the goth garden! As interest in gothic gardening continues to grow, this fully illustrated encyclopedia of plants is an essential tool to help readers understand what a goth garden really is by diving into the history, mythology, and lore of 50 of the darkest plants around.

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Book SynopsisOut of the cocaine-fuelled, rock''n''roll debauchery of the 1970s came an iconic collaboration between an influential rocker and a visionary filmmaker.From The Last Waltz to The Wolf of Wall Street and The Irishman, the creative legacy of Robbie Robertson and Martin Scorcese has spanned decades. Filled with high octane exploits, bacchanalian parties and untold amounts of debauchery, this is the intimate and unvarnished behind-the-scenes story of a partnership that has shaped American culture like no other.PRAISE FOR TESTIMONY''A book of memories and wonders, a personal testament of a magical time in American music from someone who was there, at the center of it all . . . Robbie brings you along with him, keeps you right by his side first to last, just the way his songs do, drawing you close, spellbound by his easy sorcery. You can feel the music in every word'' Martin Scorsese''Robust, wry, gritty and wise'' Wall Street Journal''Confident and well oiled. At times it has the mythic sweep of an early Terrence Malick movie'' New York Times''Captivating... this is essential reading'' Rolling Stone''Robertson is an immensely capable storyteller and a keen observer'' New Yorker

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Book SynopsisExplore Scotland's most famous castle -- home to kings and queens, the site of historic battles, and probably the best-known place in Scotland. Published in partnership with history experts at Edinburgh Castle and Historic Environment Scotland, this fun, fact-packed book includes everything you need to know about the castle's 1000-year history: -- Its most famous residents and treasures -- Who attacked the castle, and who tried to defend it -- Its dank dungeons and the prisoners who tried to escape -- The terrible battles and incredible sieges -- The secrets and the mysteriesConveying fascinating facts through simple words and loads of historically accurate illustrations, Edinburgh Castle for Kids will appeal to a wide age range of young visitors from all over the world.Each section includes a fun activity -- mazes, doodling and colouring, spot the difference, untangle, search and find and join the dots.With a mix of brilliant facts and enjoyable activities, Edinburgh Castle for Kids is the ultimate guide for kids to Scotland's most famous landmark -- whether you've visited or not!

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsDisclaimer xi Foreword xiii Acknowledgments xv About the Author xxi About the Editor xxiii Preface: My Story xxv Introduction: Structure of the Book xxxi Part One Building Blocks of the Leveraged Credit Markets 1 Chapter 1 Description and History of the Leveraged Finance Markets 3 Chapter 2 Credit Cycles 13 Chapter 3 A Primer on Leveraged Credit Trading Terminology 29 Chapter 4 A Primer on Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs) 39 Part Two The Seven- Step Process of Evaluating a Debt Investment 49 Chapter 5 Step 1 of the Credit Analysis Process: Sources and Uses 51 Chapter 6 Step 2 of the Credit Analysis Process: Qualitative Analysis 57 Chapter 7 Step 3(a) of the Credit Analysis Process: Financial Statement Analysis— Profitability 75 Chapter 8 Step 3(b) of the Credit Analysis Process: Financial Statement Analysis—Cash Flow and Liquidity 103 Chapter 9 Step 3(c) of the Credit Analysis Process: Financial Statement Analysis— Capital Structure 121 Chapter 10 Step 4 of the Credit Analysis Process: Forecasting 147 Chapter 11 Step 5 of the Credit Analysis Process: Corporate Valuation 171 Chapter 12 Step 6 of the Credit Analysis Process: Structuring and Documentation 189 Chapter 13 Step 7 of the Credit Analysis Process: Preparing an Investment Recommendation and Credit Committee Memo 203 Part Three Distressed Debt Investing 265 Chapter 14 Introduction to Distressed Debt Investing 267 Chapter 15 Bankruptcy 101 271 Chapter 16 Bankruptcy Fights 283 Chapter 17 How Subordination Works in Bankruptcy 301 Chapter 18 Liability Management and Creditor- on- Creditor Violence 317 Chapter 19 Making Money in Distressed Situations 329 Closing Comment Chapter 20 My Closing Comment 365 Appendix Appendix The Quinn Case Study 369 Index 375

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Book SynopsisGifted to the city of Glasgow in 1944, the Burrell Collection is one of the UK's most significant art museums, with an extraordinarily varied collection, and is housed in a striking, purpose-built modern space. In 2022, it will reopen after an extensive refurbishment, with innovative new galleries, displays and facilities.

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Book SynopsisThe third book in this magical series from best-selling author and illustrator, Laura Ellen Anderson!Rainbow Grey may be only ten years old but the future of the whole world depends on her! It's up to Ray to defeat Tornadia Twist the greatest villain that ever lived . . .Ray has to figure out what her ultimate magical gift is anduse this power to stop Tornadia before she destroys the Weatherlands and Earth. With epic adventures, magic galore and everything at stake, the battle for the skies is ON!Trade Review"Laura Ellen Anderson must be one of the brightest rainbows in kidlit. Rainbow Grey is bursting with colour, kindness and heart – just like her creator. An utter joy from start to finish." Maz Evans “Sparkling new series with a rip-roaring, colour-infused tale of bravery, storm-filled action, kindness and warm-hearted friendships.” Lancashire Post “A lively story with a fully imagined alternative world, an entertaining collection of characters and a brave heroine.”Books for Keeps “A fabulously fun read for newly independent readers.”Miss Cleveland is Reading, school librarian and book blogger “Packed full of action and excitement from the first page all the way through to the last.” The Teacher Bookworm, teacher and book blogger “Rainbow Grey is funny and smart” Books for Topics “A true delight" Irish Sunday Independent “Ray is a glorious combination of confidence, determination and colour that children will admire” Bonkers About Books “The plot keeps readers reading right to the end, as we see main character Ray finding her inner power (as a Rainbow Weatherling), discovering her own identity and overcoming challenges” What I Read, teacher and book blogger “The perfect mix of adventure and peril, Laura has created the most sublime and wondrous world which she brings to life through her marvellous illustrations.” Book Lover Jo, school librarian and book blogger “Perfect for readers transitioning to longer-chapter books.”- Sunday Business Post

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE SLIGHTLY FOXED BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE 2017Born into nobility and married into the royal family, Catherine Howard was attended every waking hour secrets were impossible to keep. In this thrilling reappraisal of Henry VIII's fifth wife, Gareth Russell's history unfurls as if in real time to explain how the queen's career ended with one of the great scandals of Henry's reign. This is a grand tale of the Henrician court in its twilight, a glittering but pernicious sunset during which the king's unstable behaviour and his courtiers' labyrinthine deceptions proved fatal to many, not just to Catherine Howard.Trade ReviewA Daily Mail Book of the Week ‘A stunning reappraisal of the tragic life of Henry VIII’S fifth wife’ The Times ‘A timely and powerful re-examination of Henry's fifth queen … Gareth Russell has done some beautiful new research to indicate that Catherine was not as foolish as some historians have suggested, and that her death was managed and manipulated by her offended husband, purely for his own revenge … I love it when historians take the women who have been neglected by history seriously and study their lives rather than accepting stereotypes’ Philippa Gregory ‘“Young and Damned and Fair” is everything a historical biography should be’ Kathryn Warner, author of "Edward II: The Unconventional King" ‘Russell marries slick storytelling with a great wealth of learning about sixteenth-century personalities and politics. The result is a book that leads us deep into the nightmarish final years of Henry VIII's reign, wrenching open the intrigues of a poisonous court in a realm seething with discontent. At the heart of it all is the fragile, tragic figure of Catherine Howard, whose awful fate is almost unbearable to watch as it unfolds. This is authoritative Tudor history written with a novelist's lightness of touch. A terrific achievement’ Dan Jones ‘A magnificent account of the rise and fall of Henry VIII's tragic fifth queen – compelling, thought-provoking and above all real. In Russell's meticulously researched narrative Catherine Howard and her household are brought to life as never before. Hugely enjoyable’ Adrian Tinniswood ‘This fascinating and ultimately heartbreaking account of Henry VIII's doomed fifth wife brings to life the cruel, gossip-fuelled, back-stabbing world of the court in which Catherine Howard rose and fell. The uncommonly talented Gareth Russell has produced a masterly work of Tudor history that is engrossing, sympathetic, suspenseful, and illuminating’ Charlotte Gordon, author of Romantic Outlaws

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Book SynopsisRunaway No.1 Bestseller by STEVEN BARTLETT: entrepreneur, podcaster and Dragon's Den starThis is not a book about business strategy. Strategy changes like the seasons. This is a book about something much more permanent. At the very heart of all the success and failure I've been exposed to - both my own entrepreneurial journey and through the thousands of interviews I've conducted on my podcast - are a set of principles that can stand the test of time, apply to any industry, and be used by anyone who is search of building something great or becoming someone great.These are the fundamental laws that will ensure excellence.They are rooted in psychology and behavioral science, are based on the wisdom of tens of thousands of people I've surveyed across every continent and age group, and of course, drawn from the conversations I've had on my chart-topping podcast with the world's most successful people.These laws will work now or in 100 years from now. Are you ready to get started?Number 1 Sunday Times bestseller, September 2023Trade ReviewWeaving the latest research, his own experiences, and captivating stories, Steven guides readers to redefine success and achieve their potential. This is a must-read for anyone dreaming of doing something audacious. * Jay Shetty, author of Think Like a Monk *There is a new breed of CEO taking over the business world. The blustery, chest beating CEOs who act like they make no mistakes are being replaced by CEOs who talk about their feelings, lead with curiosity and are willing to work on themselves...and Steven Bartlett is leading the revolution! The Diary Of A CEO is an essential companion for any leader who wants to take themselves on and lead us into the next generation. * Simon Sinek, Optimist and New York Times bestselling author of Start with Why and The Infinite Game *It's about time that we read about success in our modern world as seen by one who's navigated the path to success like no other. Intelligent, insightful, and real. I am humbled by how much I learned from Steven's work. * Mo Gawdat *From 'never disagree' to 'don't attack beliefs, inspire new ones,' this book contains surprising wisdom that will move you forward personally and professionally. I highly recommend. * Scott Galloway *Surprising and persuasive in equal measure. Steven's advice will supercharge your chances of achieving your biggest dreams. * Marie Forleo, author of Everything Is Figureoutable *

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Book SynopsisChristopher de Bellaigue is the award-winning author of The Lion House: The Rise of Suleyman the Magnificent, which was chosen as a book of the year by The Times, Sunday Times, Spectator and New Yorker among others, as well as five previous books, including The Islamic Enlightenment, which was shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-fiction and the Orwell Prize for Political Writing in 2017. As a reporter he has covered war, politics, society and the environment in five continents for the Economist, the New York Review of Books, the Guardian and the BBC. He is the founder of the Lake District Book Festival in Cartmel, Cumbria, an Honorary Fellow of the University of St Andrews and in 2026 he will take up a Visiting Fellowship at All Souls College, Oxford. www.christopherdebellaigue.comTrade ReviewThere are books that enlarge the mind, there are books that enrich the soul, but rarely comes a book so beautifully-written and profound that it manages to do both -- ELIF SHAFAK, author of The Island of Missing TreesThe most daring history book of the year ... told in the present tense with all the dash and flair of a novel. The research is faultless: we are immersed ... it brilliantly conveys a sense of colour and momentum, placing the reader in the thick of the action. Unforgettable -- Dominic Sandbrook * The Times & Sunday Times Best Books of 2022 *This is history, but not as we know it. It is non-fiction posing as a novel, rich in incident and cinematic detail ... it's tremendous -- Justin Marozzi * Sunday Times *An urgent, immersive, present-tense gallop ... the book reads as a non-fiction novel ... cinematically vivid tableaux ... Each spangled scene ... rests on a solid foundation in the primary sources ... De Bellaigue enriches his storytelling with the colourful, meticulous dispatches of its traders, envoys and spies ... behind the bejewelled descriptive prose a thumping pulse of action tugs us through ... de Bellaigue's glittering, deft and often witty prose adds pleasure to each page * Financial Times *Luminous, erudite ... a gripping account that evokes an epic poem, saga or 'book of kings' ... It is as immersive as the blurb claims, conjuring the world of the eastern Mediterranean, Anatolia and south-eastern Europe in the early 16th century with the limpid clarity of the many gems that stud its pages ... Even more than the detail, it is the characters that intrigue and often inspire ... The book leaves the reader with Suleiman truly magnificent * Spectator *Mesmerising . . . steeped in the sensuous detail of banquet and ceremony, stratagem and conspiracy -- Colin ThubronA brilliantly written account of the Ottoman empire in all its opulence and brutality. Rich in colourful historical anecdotes, de Bellaigue brings 16th-century statecraft vividly alive, and offers a chilling insight into the ruthlessness and loneliness of one of the most powerful men of the age * Guardian *A vivid, cinematic account of the rise of Suleyman the Magnificent ... de Bellaigue follows with exhilarating clarity and suspense the era's broader battles across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and the individual trajectories - grand ambitions, rivalries, betrayals - of these outsiders in Suleyman's court, a place rife with intrigue and back-stabbing, rich with colourful characters -- Claire Messud * Harper's *Those lucky readers who come to Christopher de Bellaigue's book in proximity to reading Mantel can suddenly have a new panel thrown open to them like an unfolding altarpiece ... all written in the present tense. This creates the obvious sense of liveliness and urgency ... Bellaigue sets about the task with such confidence and skill that it works ... a dazzling and dark work. Witty and often wise, it speaks to the frailties and the precarity of power -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *Vivid and compelling ... He presents his story like a novel, but it is not fiction; every detail has been diligently researched, for example by perusing diaries in difficult Venetian dialect ... Whether he is describing a lavish dinner for Italian merchants on the Bosporus, the stately progress of Suleiman's armies through the Balkans or a mass circumcision, he has an eye for the colourful, absurd and ironic ... As this book shows, living in the penumbra of such supreme power can be seductive and intoxicating. But the end of the story is often tragic * Economist *Wolf Hall for the Ottoman Empire ... History at its most gripping * Daily Telegraph *This account really grips... it does so by bringing out the fascinating individuals, the adventure, the lurid details, the barbarities, the opulence and squalor and near misses of the story -- Melanie McDonagh * Evening Standard *Poised effortlessly between two worlds and two ages, a book as pungent and mysterious as the age it depicts -- RORY STEWART, former British Cabinet Minister and author of The Places In BetweenA complex piece of history told with extraordinary clarity * Spectator, *Best Books of 2022* *Christopher de Bellaigue has a magic talent for writing history It is as if we are there as the era of Suleyman the Magnificent unfolds -- ORHAN PAMUK, Nobel Laureate in LiteratureEssential reading for anyone wishing to understand political ambition and the role of narcissistic leaders and scheming courtiers in any age -- ROBERT PESTON, Political Editor ITV NewsGripping, novelistic ... brisk and muscular ... written in a sure-footed historical present, the book creates a simulacrum of the 16th century through the painstaking accumulation of attested details ... [giving] the book its vividness and energy ... [De Bellaigue] writes with supreme confidence about power, diplomacy, clothing, avarice, war, statecraft and the exceptional brutality of the era ... While The Lion House unfolds like a novel, through scenes rich with authenticating detail -- Marcel Theroux * The New York Times Book Review *De Bellaigue is a riveting and expert guide to the story of Suleyman's quest for power -- PETER FRANKOPAN, author of The Silk RoadsNarrated with a verve and flair that make the characters burst from the pages. Outstanding history and an incredibly good read -- EUGENE ROGAN, author of The Fall of the OttomansExquisite ... So arresting is this book, so enveloping in the tensions of its narrative, that most readers will feel a pang of sorrow that the tale does not run on. The Lion House leaves us with a tease, or taunt: "Who, apart from God, can say what will come next?" A sequel, surely. Although it was the peak of the Ottoman Empire, Suleyman's reign also offers clear glimpses of a great decline to come. Who better to tell us about it than Mr de Bellaigue? * Wall Street Journal *Non-fiction with the readability of a thriller. Unputdownable -- VICTORIA HISLOP, author of The IslandSensuous and scholarly, meticulously researched and deliciously irreverent, The Lion House is an intoxicating journey through the Ottomans' golden age -- AMBERIN ZAMAN, correspondent, Al-Monitor, Turkey correspondent for the Economist (1999-2016) and Fellow of the Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, DCReads like the most gripping fiction ... could very well be Netflix's next epic * Radio Times *The Lion House presents a historical universe that captivates and astonishes and is near-impossible to put down. A superb example of historical literature and research -- RICHARD WHATMORE, Professor of Modern History at the University of St AndrewsFull of breath-taking events at the cross-roads of empires at a moment in history when notions such as Europe, Asia, Christianity and Islam were infinitely more fluid and permeable than they are today -- KEREM OKTEM, Professor of International Relations at Ca' Foscari University, VeniceOriginal... de Bellaigue... offers a vivid presentation of events, re-imagined as scenes and episodes... a different, literary kind [of history] -- Noel Malcolm * Times Literary Supplement *De Bellaigue writes with impecable scholarship, piecing together contemporary accounts to create a thrilling narrative * Church Times *De Bellaigue is an expert stylist, sensitive to rhythm and vocabulary, and passionate in his pursuit of the fugitive detail that gives meaning to a whole episode * Literary Review *An exhilarating read -- Rose Shepherd * Saga Magazine *An engrossing book... This is history turned into drama and poetry, awesomely spectacular yet also intensely intimate -- Yasmin Alibhai-Brown * iNews *

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Book SynopsisBeat the boredom and take time out from screens with this pocket-sized book packed with facts, photos and fantastic spots for hours of fun!Kids will have fun collecting points outdoors with more than 140 things to find. From buttercups to sycamore trees, ladybirds to pine martins, they'll learn all about their surrounding natural world. And once they've scored 1000 points, super-spotters can claim their official i-SPY certificate and badge.With more than 30 i-SPY books to collect, there's something for everyone!For even more fun outdoors check out i-SPY Birds (ISBN 9780008386450).Trade Review“A fun, interactive way to encourage curious children to learn about the world around them.” – Parents In touch

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Book Synopsis From one of the most important chroniclers of our time, come two extended excerpts from her never-before-seen notebooks – writings that offer an illuminating glimpse into the mind and process of a legendary writer. Trade Review‘Didion at her most fascinatingly unfiltered, recording folksy vernacular at a motel pool, having G & Ts with Walker Percy, and searching fruitlessly for Faulkner’s grave in an Oxford cemetery … her riffs on everything from Gertrude Atherton to crossing the Golden Gate bridge for the first time in three-inch heels captures the thrill of a writer discovering her richest subject: the American mythologies that governed her own romantic girlhood, a yearning for an MGM-style heritage that never really was – a yearning that feels freshly perilous in its delusions.’ Vogue ‘Every era needs better criticism … And so it’s been a relief to read [South and West], investigating the South and its “vertiginous preoccupation with race, class, heritage, style and the absence of style”’ Adam Thirlwell, TLS, Books of the Year ‘Let your heart skip a beat. For here be new writing from the mind behind The Year of Magical Thinking and The White Album – Joan Didion. But this isn’t just for Didionites … For an understanding of certain parts of modern America, it still has eerie resonance … An insight into the process of a writer who can truly be referred to as an icon’ Emerald Street ‘A compelling book — rooted utterly in a past now all but lost to us, while also incredibly timely and relevant … It bears the hallmarks of Didion’s sparkling prose’ Los Angeles Review of Books ‘You'll learn more about America's future from Didion's 40-year-old field notes than you will from tomorrow's newspaper’ Esquire ‘There’s a universal rule against reading someone else’s diary – but in this case, it’s not just OK, it’s required reading’ Marie Claire ‘The power of Didion’s work is on striking display in this slender volume … Didion’s notes are remarkably polished and slicing; they shimmer with dark implications’ Booklist ‘Here are many of the splendid, sharp-eyed sentences for which [Didion] has long been admired … An almost spectral text haunted by a past that never seems distant’ Kirkus Reviews

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Book Synopsis''This brilliant book is a bombshell! Jane Seymour the shy mouse type? Think again!'' Kate WilliamsAlison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times bestsellers Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen and Anne Boleyn: A King''s Obsession, draws an enthralling portrait of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII''s third queen, as you''ve never seen her before. Essential reading for fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick.''This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction'' The TimesTHE WOMAN HAUNTED BY THE FATE OF HER PREDECESSOR. Eleven days after the death of Anne Boleyn, Jane is dressing for her wedding to the King.She has witnessed at first hand how courtly play can quickly turn to danger and knows she must bear a son . . . or face ruin.This new Queen must therefore step out from the shadows cast by Katherine and AnTrade ReviewThis six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction * The Times *Alison Weir gives a fresh take on Jane Seymour's life . . . A brilliant and engaging read * Good Housekeeping *Gripping and utterly compelling . . . Henry VIII's third and - allegedly - best-loved wife is brought vividly to life . . . Not to be missed -- Tracy BormanWritten with the verve of fiction and the authority of history, this is a Jane who is neither a puppet, a pious victim nor a po-faced schemer, but a living, breathing woman, launched on her own emotional journey. Meticulous research is magically transformed into a riveting narrative which takes us into the places non-fiction history cannot reach. It's what Alison Weir does better than anybody - and what historical fiction was created to do -- Sarah GristwoodDeft, authoritative biographical fiction * Kirkus Reviews *This brilliant book is a bombshell! Jane Seymour the shy mouse type? Think again! . . . She is vibrant, determined and she sets the King's court on fire . . . A magnificent novel - you'll never forget her! -- Kate WilliamsHugely enjoyable . . . Alison Weir knows her subject and has a knack for the telling and textural detail * Daily Mail *Combining her authority as a historian with her skill as a novelist, in telling Jane Seymour's story Alison has once again brought the past enthrallingly to life, as only she can. The Haunted Queen is another classic - in the great tradition of historical fiction -- Josephine RossVivid characters and a wonderful sense of time and place combine with the story of a gentle, kind heroine who I really cared about, the more so because she was so cruelly robbed of her life at the moment of her greatest happiness -- Barbara ErskineWeir does an excellent job of bringing the pages of history to life; creating living, breathing characters with flaws and weaknesses like our own * Bookbag *Weir's impressive novel shows why Jane deserves renewed attention . . . This third volume in Weir's exceptional Six Tudor Queens series offers new angles on its earlier subjects [Katherine and Anne] . . . Weir keeps the tension high, breathing new life into a familiar tale and making us wish for a different ending * Booklist *This retelling portrays Jane as a lady of principle. Meticulously researched and richly rewarding * Candis Magazine *A triumph of fine detail and research and offers a complex depiction of an endlessly fascinating woman -- Elizabeth FremantleAlison Weir's wonderfully detailed novel offers a spellbinding solution to the mystery of Anne [Boleyn's] true nature . . . Enthralling -- Sarah GristwoodWell researched and engrossing * Good Housekeeping *Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else -- Barbara Erskine

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisFrom casual Friday night supper to brunch with friends, light lunches and garden feasts, picnics and barbecues, to more lavish dinner parties and the classic Sunday lunch, Matt has all bases covered.The weekend is the chance to kick your shoes off and relax or, if you love a kitchen project, it's time to spend preparing a special meal for yourself and loved ones to enjoy together.Matt Tebbutt is used to spending his Saturdays cooking - as the host of BBC TV's Saturday Kitchen, he's never short of a fast meal idea or a meal for guests that will impress.With 100 recipes, beautiful photography, and simple yet inspiring dishes, make the weekend special again with Weekend.Trade ReviewThe recipes are bold, and the dishes achievable. * Diana Henry *

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1948, this is the classic, definitive work on the use of the small (3 1/2 inch) lathe which has proved invaluable to generations of light engineers, small garage owners and precision hobbyists, apprentices and engineering professionals alike.Table of ContentsThe Lathe. Choosing a Lathe. Installing the Lathe. Lathe Accessories. Measuring Equipment. Lathe Tools. Drills & Reamers. Holding Work in the Lathe. Marking Out. Plain Turning & Boring. Taper Turning. Crankshaft Turning. Disc & Ball Turning. Screwcutting. Milling, Shaping & Grinding in the Lathe. Lapping. Metal Spinning. Spring Winding. Turning Rubber. Production Methods in Small Lathes. Care of the Lathe and its Accessories.

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