Search results for ""Batsford Ltd""

Britain has a wealth of royal palaces, some owned by the Crown as part of the country’s assets, while others have been bought by members of the Royal Family themselves as personal residences. Each property has a fascinating story behind it, as well as its own unique place in history. This beautifully illustrated book looks at some of the UK’s best-loved royal homes, current and former, their buildings, gardens, treasures and, of course, their inhabitants past and present. Discover how these homes have evolved over the centuries and how they are being adapted for the future and the demands of modern life. Written by seasoned Pitkin royal author Halima Sadat, this easily digestible volume makes a wonderful companion for anyone visiting these impressive buildings and their beautiful gardens. Entries include: Hampton Court, Osborne House, Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace, Highgrove, Sandringham and Balmoral.

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“Oxford still remains the most beautiful thing in England, and nowhere else are life and art so exquisitely blended, so perfectly made into one.” Oscar Wilde Oxford has for centuries inspired and delighted, and its beauty and antiquity have been celebrated by some of the most famous writers and artists in history. The unique characteristics of Oxford are captured in this stunning photographic collection – the famous colleges and grand buildings, the parks, the riverside walks and the wide streets. From Boars Hill to South Park, this beautiful book explores the familiar and the hidden Oxford. Extracts of poetry and prose from famous writers such as Lewis Carroll, Evelyn Waugh, Samuel Pepys, Dorothy L. Sayers and Jan Morris complement the images perfectly, creating a memorable portrait of this much-loved city.

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Step behind the scenes of the biggest mystery of the British Isles Loch Ness is one of the most popular visitor sites in the world. Its stunning beauty draws many, but far more come to experience the mystery of the monster that may lurk in its waters. Known affectionately as 'Nessie', this elusive creature has been chased with great zeal for over a century (it has been seen by over 1000 people) and this enthusiasm shows no sign of diminishing. A new edition, rewritten and with fresh new images, of a Pitkin classic that examines the evidence and the various sitings on this perennial mystery.

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Pomp, pageantry, power and prestige are just a few of the words to sum up the history and vibrancy of the City of London. Beyond its fame as the financial heart of London, this new guidebook explores the Square Mile of London revealing the secrets hidden in its rich treasure trove. Neither square nor a square mile, the City of London seems to lie beyond the limits of logic. From St Paul’s, Wren’s Masterpiece to the Barbican, Europe’s largest centre for Arts, the City of London is a compelling blend of diverse visitor attractions waiting to be explored. Whether you pop into the Old Bailey, the scene of many a courtroom drama, amble through Lincoln Inn Fields or drool over the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London there is never a dull moment in the City... Learn why the Bank of England is known as the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street and the importance of Mansion House, home to the Right Honorable The Lord Mayor of London and looks at the traditions behind the Lord Mayor’s Show.

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A beautifully illustrated guide to the city and surrounding area Chichester is nestled beside the clear blue sea of Wittering's beaches and Chichester Harbour, a designated area of outstanding Natural Beauty and one of the few remaining relatively wild and undeveloped areas along the bustling South Coast. Further north, the chalk hills of the South Downs National Park encompass both fertile farmland and ancient woodland, providing diverse habitats. Chichester District, once used as ancient humans' hunting ground and the site of military invasion, now continues to draw sailors, walkers and creatives alike to experience its rich heritage and beautiful countryside. This informative guide takes in the wonderful sites that this coastal city has to offer, as well as attractions nearby. Also available in this series: Bath, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Ely, Glasgow, Lincoln, Liverpool, Norwich, Oxford, York.

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The Victorians gave us many of the Christmas traditions we enjoy today, from putting up Christmas trees to pulling crackers. This handy, pocket-sized colouring book embodies these customs in 45 unique illustrations. Colour in Victorian fireplaces adorned with stockings, St Nicholas with his sack full of presents, and scenes from the nativity. Why not de-stress and take a break over the Christmas period?

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Magna Carta

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Life in Ancient Britain journeys through the ancient worlds of our ancestors: how they lived, how they shaped the landscape we know today, and how we know what we do, about their achievements. This guide offers a concise and lively introduction to the prehistory of the British Isles – covering the period from around 500,000 years ago when Palaeolithic hunters camped at Boxgrove in West Sussex, through the later Middle and New Stone Ages, and on to the Bronze Age and the start of the Iron Age. It describes how people first came to settle in Britain, and explores the rich mysteries of atmospheric ceremonial meeting places, barrows and stone circles. Also featured is the coming of the age of metals, when warrior-farmers created hilltop forts and settlements, stone brochs and lakeside villages – indeed the Celtic Britain that the Romans found, when they first landed on our shores.

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This is the story of RMS Titanic. In this authoritative and highly illustrated guide we explore what was the largest passenger steamship in the world when she set sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton on 10 April 1912. Just four days later she struck an iceberg and sank, resulting in the deaths of 1,517 people in one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters in history. Here we see how the ship was built, reveal what life was like above and below deck, uncover details of the fatal accident and the aftermath – and consider the world’s fascination with the subject ever since.

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This title is also available in English 80 powerful and moving poems from the First World War, including works by Wilfred Owen, Rupert Brooke, Siegfried Sassoon and W. B. Yeats. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel, particularly for more titles in the Pitkin Collectibles Series.

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See below for alternative languages for this title An indispensable guide to help discover Cambridge, a city of both modern and ancient beauty whose rich history unfolds as you explore its ancient streets and buildings. This guide is based on two circular walks to show visitors the absolute best that the city of Cambridge has to offer, with extra diversions and places to visit for those who have longer to spend exoploring the city. Containing informative histories of the city and of individual buildings as well as modern-day attractions, the guide tells how visitors can enjoy the university colleges, where many great scientists lived and worked, and see the wonderful buildings, courts, gardens and unrivalled architecture of Cambridge. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel, including other titles in our popular City Guides series. Also available in: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish.

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Chief Inspector Morse, the curmudgeonly, real ale-drinking detective captured the heart of millions when he first appeared on our screens in 1987, played by John Thaw. The television show was an instant success with intricate plotting, a talented cast and its beautiful setting – the historic city of Oxford. This walking guide of Oxford brings this beautiful city alive, for both visitor and resident, by visiting colleges, museums and other memorable buildings. The guide details how notable spots in Oxford relate to incidents investigated by Inspector Morse, and gives information on their history and fame in their own right. Discover how Colin Dexter's award-winning books were adapted to become a popular TV series. Visit the scenes of crimes investigated by one of Britain's best-loved detectives. You can even try some of Morse and Lewis's favourite pubs. Includes a CD with some of Morse's music favourites, and a list of colleges, museums and public buildings featured in Inspector Morse episodes.

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A detailed guide to help discover Cambridge, a city of both modern and ancient beauty whose rich history unfolds as you explore its ancient streets and buildings. This guide is based on two circular walks to show visitors the absolute best that the city of Cambridge has to offer, with extra diversions and places to visit for those who have longer to spend exoploring the city. Containing informative histories of the city and of individual buildings as well as modern-day attractions, the guide tells how visitors can enjoy the university colleges, where many great scientists lived and worked, and see the wonderful buildings, courts, gardens and unrivalled architecture of Cambridge. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel, including other titles in our popular City Guides series. Also available in: Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish.

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A poignant description of one of Europe's most well known war cemeteries. Based on interviews and personal experiences, this work includes images, including photographs by Corporal Eric Gunton of Number 32 Graves Registration Unit, who photographed the cemetery as it took shape. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British and French history, heritage and travel.

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This stunningly illustrated guide explores the history and mystery of these two sites, as well as looking at the rituals that survive today. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

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Influential ceramics company People Will Always Need Plates bring you notecards depicting four stunning Brutalist architectural gems. These outstanding graphic illustrations of London buildings with their clean lines and bold blocks of colour have been used by the company on a successful range of plates, mugs and other objects which are fast becoming British design icons.

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Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived. For over four centuries, popular imagination has been gripped by the story of King Henry VIII and his six wives - and by the tangled web of passion and intrigue that lies behind it. Henry's desperate hope for a son, a male heir for the throne of England, drove him until his death. This attractive guide looks at the King, each of his wives and the background of religious change that surrounds their stories. From Henry's first marriage to his brother's widow Catherine of Aragon until the end of his life with Catherine Parr and three heirs, this guide tells these stories with fascinating facts, artworks, illustrations and colour photographs. Perfect for students of history and anyone with an interest in one of England's most famous monarchs and his six wives. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

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On 6 June the greatest landing force ever assembled began the Allied Liberation of France and Europe. In this German translation of the Pitkin Guide, enhanced with many contemporary photographs and maps, visitors and veterans can visit the beaches, landmarks, museums and cemeteries of Normandy. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British history, heritage and travel.

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There are more languages available for this title: French, English For many, the name of Ypres invokes some of our most poignant poetry, written by soldiers at the front line. Reminders of the horrors and heroism of a terrible war await the visitor, but also the pleasures of discovering the richness of a heritage that stretches back over 800 years. Ypres in War and Peace provides not only a guide to events and memorials of the First World War, but also a revealing introduction to the fascination of an ancient and modern city - an ideal souvenir to take home. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British and European history, heritage and travel.

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The area around Hoyland is very special indeed. Developed over 1,000 years, it is a microcosm of agricultural, architectural and industrial development, whose historical significance is without equal. Some of the buildings found here are of a quality which can be found nowhere else in England. This delightful collection by local historian Geoffrey Howse, whose great-grandparent’s shop gave Elsecar the name ‘Howse’s Corner’, includes many rare antique photographs of the area, each set alongside an image of the same view today. Deeply nostalgic and meticulously researched, it will delight residents and visitors alike.

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Contrasting a selection of 45 archive images alongside full-colour modern photographs, this book traces some of the changes and developments that have taken place in Ealing during the last century. Accompanied by detailed and informative captions, these intriguing photographs reveal changing modes of fashion and transportation, shops and businesses, houses and public buildings, and, of course, some of the local people who once lived and worked in the area. Ealing Then & Now will delight all local historians and will awaken nostalgic memories for all who know this London Borough.

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Just how much has changed in Chippenham over the decades is clear when you consider that Edward Hutton described 1920s Chippenham as ‘one of the sleepiest places in England’. Today, the busy cattle traders in the Market Place of the 1890s and Chippenham’s tiny 1930s cottage hospital on London Road have now disappeared, but the town’s thriving population is at its highest-ever level, its beautiful historic buildings are more in demand than ever, and new industries, buildings and roads are appearing all the time. In this fascinating book, local historian Mike Stone compares archive images of Chippenham with modern photographs of the same scenes today, chronicling the changing appearance of the town and unveiling a wealth of historic detail and nostalgic memories sure to captivate local residents and history enthusiasts alike.

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Contrasting a selection of 45 archive images alongside full-colour modern photographs, this book traces some of the changes and developments that have taken place in the historic town of Thatcham during the last century. Accompanied by detailed and informative captions, these intriguing photographs reveal changing modes of fashion and transportation, shops and businesses, houses and public buildings, and, of course, some of the local people who once lived and worked in the area. Thatcham Then & Now will delight all local historians and will awaken nostalgic memories for all who know this Berkshire town.

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This fascinating book explores the transformations that have seen Bournemouth develop from a small seaside town into a major South Coast resort and bustling centre of commerce. Beautiful archive images are skilfully contrasted with modern photographs taken from the same vantage point today, and show how Bournemouth has changed – as well as the familiar landmarks that have remained. From the gardens as they originally appeared, freshly laid out with a large fountain where the balloon now stands, to the East Cliff Lift, the Cloisters, the model boats once sailed at Children’s Corner and the peaceful surroundings of the ‘Invalids Walk’, Bournemouth Then & Now will rekindle fond memories for many people, and will delight residents and visitors alike.

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London is a city of enormous beauty, a dynamic, ever-evolving cityscape built up over hundreds of years of architectural evolution. However, amidst this riot of growth and splendour some truly iconic sights may be found, landmarks which been drawing tourists by the thousands since before the days of Queen Victoria. This stunning collection, collated by professional photographer Laina Watt, compares 40 rare archive images of Central London’s most iconic views and landmarks – including the Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Trafalgar Square – with modern images of the capital. In full colour, and drawing on only the finest images, it will delight visitors, residents and historians alike.

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Every chessplayer who aspires to achieve chess mastery must learn the techniques for winning a won game. It is the perennial problem which confronts players at all levels of play. This book will enable chessplayers to better recognize their positional advantages and the ways in which these can be used in order to bring them closer to victory. It also provides many instructive examples of using this knowledge to reach a faster and more spectacular victory. Mr. Paul M. Albert, Jr. has been donating over $2000 per year to the most brilliantly played at both the Women's and Men's United States Championships for over 20 years. This book presents, describes and illustrates the most significant examples, with emphasis on what can be learned from them in terms of winning a won game.

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A practical guide to learn painting in oils, with simple exercises and step-by-step demonstrations. Bestselling artist and writer Hazel Soan has distilled her art teaching into the things that matter most and can be digested in a short period of time. Learning to paint is one of the life-long aspirations of many of us and the techniques of oil painting can be picked up faster than you think. And, as mistakes can be corrected much more easily in oils than any other painting medium, it is the ideal medium for beginners. In this concise book, Hazel Soan explains everything you need to know about oils in an accessible way. She advises on the materials you need (keeping things to a minimum), how to mix colours, basic brush techniques and how to use a palette knife. The subjects covered range from still life, flowers, animals, landscapes, figures and portraits. Filled with easy-to-follow exercises and demonstrations, this is a practical and helpful guide to learning to paint in oils very quickly.

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A modern take on the classic Gulliver's Travels in the form of a colouring book. In Gulliver's New Travels, illustrator James Gulliver Hancock brings together his obsessions with re-imagining the world and travelling with his attention to scale and detail. The result is a creative colouring book inspired by Swift's 18th-century classic, featuring different worlds and playing with scale as in the lands of teeny Lilliput and giant Brobdingnag. There is a whole imaginary world to colour in. Taking in places from around the world, from all landscapes, and even future worlds and those in galaxies far away, the illustrations are playful and fanciful but always wonderful to look at. You are encouraged to engage with the drawings and make them your own whether you are using pencils or pens. As you colour in, you’ll discover great little details you hadn’t spotted before, such as the diver swimming through the flowers and the tiny climber scaling a cactus. A must have for anyone with a passion for colouring in and illustration from a major creative talent.

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A wonderful portable edition of Millie Marotta's Curious Creatures from the the Sunday Times and international bestseller Millie Marotta. Lose yourself in the fascinating world of Millie's Curious Creatures. Millie has researched beasts of all shapes and sizes from all over the world, and illustrated those with amazing survival skills, intriguing behaviours and – of course – beautiful plumage and patterns. Millie’s intricate style of illustration encourages you to make your own mark, whether it's adding colour to a mandarinfish or adding feathers to a kiwi. There's the mimic octopus and the giant squid, the sleepy sloth and the long-eared jerboa, even the otherwordly narwhal – all waiting to be brought alive with glorious colour. Now in a handy pocket size, this book is perfect for anyone looking for a creative outlet or a mindful and relaxing activity on the go.

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Mindful Calligraphy is a unique and groundbreaking book that fuses the art of calligraphy and mindfulness. Calligraphy has long been known to centre and balance mind and body – concentrating on pen strokes is a good way to tune in positively and live in the moment. And lettering and calligraphy is having a major renaissance as we look for an antidote for our digital age. Progressing from simple movements and shapes to words and phrases, this creative, step-by-step guide helps you to learn how to focus your mind, beat stress, and tune out unwelcome thinking. Tracing the letters helps you stay on the path, always progressing, always centred. Your creation, at the end, is a mini work of art. Organized in progressive and easy-to-follow exercises, Mindful Calligraphy is the perfect guide on this journey towards tranquility and calligraphic beauty.

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An illuminating look at a controversial architectural style – and its finest examples Post-modernism was the 1980s’ counter to Brutalism but fell out of fashion until its best buildings began to disappear. Now is the time to reassess its values. Historians Geraint Franklin and Elain Harwood discuss its background and key architects before celebrating Britain's finest examples. Individual entries are beautifully illustrated, many with new photography, including the SIS Building made famous by James Bond, John Outram’s awe-inspiring pumping station in London's Docklands and Judge Institute in Cambridge, and the late works of James Stirling and Michael Wilford, including No.1 Poultry – an extraordinary corner of the City that in 2016 became England’s youngest listed building.

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The revised edition of the classic cycling guide by Harold Briercliffe of 1950. Used as the inspiration for the Britain by Bike television series and a vital part of the award-winning Britain by Bike book by Jane Eastoe, the original book is reproduced along with suggested cycling routes in the Central England region for today's cyclists. Harold Briercliffe was the Alfred Wainwright of cycling and his books provide great insight into cycling in various parts of the UK in the 1940s. Harold's fascinating description of the towns, villages and roads of Britain at the time is a joy for all those who love these isles and especially for cyclists looking for inspiration. Many roads have changed over the decades and are now too busy for enjoyable cycling, so Mark Jarman, along with Sustrans, have made suggestions for alternative routes in the region for today's cyclists. The book includes the original photographs taken by Harold Briercliffe and the original illustrations. The Cycling Touring Guide: Southern England covers cycle routes in the Thames Valley and the Cotswolds, The Isle of Wight, The New Forest, between London and the South Coast, and routes along the South Coast. The cycle routes vary in length from half day and day-long trips to weekend and week-long tours.

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Cambridge Then and Now is the latest in the long-running series that uncovers archive photos of the landmark sites of a city and re-photographs them from exactly the same viewpoint today. Cambridge Then and Now features vintage photos that date back to the Victorian era, through the twentieth century up until the early 1960s. And while many of the colleges have remained remarkably similar; the cars, the bikes and the fashion on the street has changed a great deal. Cambridge sites include: King’s College, Queen’s College, St.John’s College, Trinity Hall College, Peterhouse, Magadalene College, Pembroke College, Jesus College, Jesus Green, Parker’s Piece, the Mathematical Bridge, Great St. Mary’s Church, the Corn Exchange, the Arts Theatre, Grantchester Rectory and the American Cemetery. 

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London has over 15 million visitors a year and Love London is an ideal tourist souvenir. This fabulous collection of more than 200 stunning black and white and colour photographs of London cover photos of London street scenes, the river, cafe life, famous monuments and interesting characters. Each photograph has a fascinating quote about London from the great and the good….and the not so good! The Evening Standard referred to Barbara Chandler as having ‘the sharpest eye in London’.

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• Learn the calculation secrets of the world’s best attacking players • First book from one of the UK’s biggest chess stars • Illustrated with a wealth of examples from top-level chess games This first book from one of the UK’s top grandmasters is a penetrating and detailed (though engaging and friendly) study of typical games played by the most exciting chess players of the modern era, those that are renowned as ‘attacking’ players, from Mikhail Tal, pioneering hero of the ultra-modern attacking style, to Magnus Carlsen, teenage leader of the ‘new wave’ of deadly attackers, via the immortal Bobby Fischer, ‘boa constrictor’ Anatoly Karpov and ‘King Garry’ Kasparov. The author has tried to get into the heads of these stellar players, revealing the secrets of how they choose their decisive moves and succeed in delivering such awesome attacks. This inspiring book encourages you to play more imaginatively and copy the grandmasters’ thought processes in your own game.

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‘Still seen as the classic games collection’ – English Chess Federation 'It is a work of genius' – The Compulsive Reader One of the most important chess books ever written, reissued in celebration of a chess genius, Bobby Fischer. The American takes the reader through 60 of his games, describing his thoughts, the intricacies behind his and his opponent's strategies, the tactical justification of moves and the psychological battle in each one. You'll find beautifully simple positional play by out-of-this-world combinations that are just breathtaking. Fischer played nearly all of these games as a grandmaster so they are at the very highest level, but his lucid commentary makes every move and idea both accessible and understandable, meaning that every player will learn huge amounts from this book. It is an essential for each chess enthusiast, competitor and professional alike. The controversial alterations that were made to Bobby Fischer's words in the last edition have been omitted in this book, so only the author's own words are expressed, giving a true insight into one of the most gifted, troubled and controversial minds of the 20th century.

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The classic chess reference book – as seen in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit. This text is a comprehensive guide to opening moves in the game of chess. Covering every standard line of play, it provides the essence of contemporary opening theory, and is indispensable to both club and tournament players. The standard reference work on chess openings for more than half a century, earning the epithet 'the chess player's bible', Batsford's Modern Chess Openings is the most comprehensive single-volume work on the openings. Covering every standard line of play, it provides the distilled essence of contemporary opening theory. This edition is an indispensable reference work for club and tournament players. International Grandmaster Nick de Firmian is a three-times US Champion and an expert on opening theory. He helped develop computer Deeper Blue's opening repertoire in its match victory over arch-theoretician Gary Kasparov.

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A fascinating and inspiring guide to finding inspiration for your textile art from your domestic surroundings to create nostalgic and meaningful workusing embroidery, quilting, collage and found objects.

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An introduction to weaving without large looms, with 15 weaving projects and a guide to making your own tools. In Simple Weave, the world of weaving opens beyond gigantic looms and inaccessible patterns. Kerstin Neumüller demonstrates how you can weave with tools that are easy to make yourself and often small enough to fit in your pocket. Here lies inspiration for those who have never woven but are eager to try, as well as for experienced weavers interested in working with flexible and portable tools. Practical and beautiful keepsakes to make include Scandi-style bands, bracelets, pencil and laptop cases and a wall hanging. Kerstin also shares her journey from textiles to woodworking, offering instructions for how to make your own pocket-sized weaving tools. The book is divided into three accessible chapters: Techniques and basic weaving theory. 15 achievable weaving projects including bands, a pencil case, coasters and tea towels. Making your own tools. This section includes descriptions of how to carve a heddle, make a weave stretcher, carve a backstrap loom and make a frame loom. Enjoy the mindfulness and rhythm of this traditional craft and create bespoke, contemporary pieces to fit your own style.

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Poems to celebrate the winter season.A wonderful bedside companion for a frosty winter’s evening, with poems to immerse yourself in the season. From William Shakespeare to John Keats to Katherine Mansfield, the finest poets that ever put pen to paper describe this beautiful and sometimes terrible season.With one entry for every day through winter, from 1st December until 28th or 29th February, this is the ideal book to take you through the darker months and find joy and comfort in nature.In December ‘Gaunt in gloom’ begins James Joyce’s ‘Nightpiece’. In January, there’s a ‘certain slant of light for Emily Dickinson, while ‘the dull dead wind is out of tune’ for Oscar Wilde. And in February, the last month of meteorological winter, William Morris muses ‘From this chill thaw to dream of blossomed May’.This beautiful and collectable anthology of poems derives from the popular A Poem for Every Night of the Year and also features wintry poems by Alice Oswald, Edward Lear, Emily Brontë, William Wordsworth, Ted Hughes and many more.

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An exploration of gardens through the ages and across the globe in 366 daily entries, from the ancient hanging gardens of Babylon to a vegetable plot on the International Space Station. In this fascinating and beautifully illustrated collection, garden writer Ruth Chivers presents a garden for every day of the year. It’s a sumptuous journey through garden history, design, horticulture, literary inspiration, folklore and poetry. From Sissinghurst to Versailles, from the medieval poem 'The Romance of the Rose' to the latest horticultural details of a rewilded garden, from imaginary gardens in literature to the real gardens that inspired Van Gogh and Orwell, here are absorbing garden stories for the whole year. Botanical paintings sit next to historic plans and the very best garden photography. The entries are annotated with intriguing facts and inspiring ideas, telling the stories of gardens past, present and even future. A true celebration of gardens, A Garden A Day is a beautiful and essential book for any gardener that brings home the wonder of these spaces to all of us.

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An outstanding colouring book of decorative letters from the hugely popular Maggie Magoo design house. This beautiful book contains two different illustrations of each letter from the alphabet, plus two different sets of numbers (0 to 9) and useful ampersands. Beautiful floral illustrations, with tiny minibeasts roaming around, embellish these initials and bring them to life. They are itching for a touch of colour and are ideal for any colouring-in fan looking for new, high-quality illustrations. Once coloured they can be framed to make great prints for bedrooms, kitchens, playrooms and nurseries. Whether you want to colour to indulge your creativity or relax with this perfect mindful activity, grab your pencils and pens and choose a letter than means something to you.

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SHORTLISTED in The Creative Book Awards 2024.A creative and beautiful book packed with inspiring ideas to help you capture likenesses and explore personalities in stitch, from a well-loved textile artist. Anne Kelly's evocative and nostalgic work often incorporates portraits – of friends, family, historical figures and even pets. Within these pages she shares her approach to textile portraiture, bringing in a wealth of different embroidery techniques, including hand and machine embroidery, quilting and appliqué, to render in cloth the nuances of facial expressions and the personalities of her subjects. The book covers: • Selfies at Home: making the perfect self-portrait in cloth. • Representation and Culture: how portraits have been used in textile art for cultural expression around the world. • Stylized Imagery: going beyond the traditional portrait into abstraction. • Place and Time: creating a sense of place with portraiture, sometimes incorporating photographs. • Narratives: how to create a fuller story using deeply personal ephemera and related imagery. • Pet Projects: immortalising your pets in your textile work. Beautifully illustrated with stunning examples of her own work and that of intriguing textile artists who specialise in portraiture from around the world, this is the ideal book for embroiderers and textile artists who want to introduce this often tricky subject area into their work.

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'A friendly and approachable book on a game which can often seem quite daunting ... An excellent book, highly recommended.' – Parents in Touch 'With Sabrina as writer, no basic points are omitted … This might make an excellent present.’ – James Pratt, British Chess Magazine A brand new edition of this international chess classic, with all-new illustrations. Aimed at children aged 7 and up, this character-based book is a complete guide to chess for those starting out in the game. In straightforward, animated language, Jess and Jamie – two rough-and-tumble kids who are obsessed with chess – explain everything you need to know, from first sitting down at the board to sneaky tricks to help you beat your opponents. The book explains who the pieces are and how they move (and that we're talking about pawns, not prawns), how to reach checkmate (or, in Jess's words, 'how to kill the king'), and the concept of the opening, middlegame and endgame. It also introduces the idea of chess etiquette – and explains why sometimes no one wins and a game ends in stalemate. Friendlier and funnier than the average children's chess book, The Batsford Book of Chess for Children is an essential addition to any child's bookshelf. Chess is experiencing a new wave of popularity in schools, and it's educational too. Organisations like Chess in Schools are promoting it as the perfect way to develop analytical thinking skills, increase resilience, foster the competitive instinct – and provide a lot of fun along the way.

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Introducing Britain's finest examples of brutalist architecture. Brutalist architecture is more popular now than it has ever been. Imposing and dramatic, with monolithic concrete exteriors, it forms an enduring part of our post-war urban landscape. This beautifully photographed book is an authoritative survey of the finest British examples from the very late 1950s to the 1970s, from leading architectural writer Elain Harwood, following on from her acclaimed books on art deco and mid-century architecture. It features iconic public buildings like London’s National Theatre, imposing housing such as the Trellick Tower in West London and Park Hill in Sheffield, great educational institutions including the University of Sussex, and places of worship such as Liverpool’s glorious Metropolitan Cathedral, along with some lesser-known buildings such as Arlington House on Margate’s sea front. Headed up with an introduction that places British brutalism within the context of global events and contemporary world architecture, the huge range of buildings is arranged into Private Houses and Flats, Public Housing, Educational Buildings, Public Buildings, Shops, Markets and Town Centres, Culture and Sport, Places of Worship, Offices and Industry and Transport, and there is a chapter on the atmospheric brutalist sculptures and murals that dot our cities. If you’re part of the increasingly large ranks of brutalism fans, or interested in late 20th-century architecture and society in general, Brutalist Britain is the book for you.

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Following on from the enduring success of one of the most important chess books ever written, Bobby Fischer: My 60 Memorable Games, and the recently released Magnus Carlsen: 50 Memorable Games, celebrated chess writer Andrew Soltis delivers a book on Fabiano Caruana, the Grandmaster set to rival current world champion Magnus Carlsen. This book details Caruana's remarkable rise from chess prodigy to one of the best chess player in the world, exploring how he acquired the skills of 21st-century grandmaster chess over such a short period of time. This book dives into how he wins by analysing 60 of the games that made him who he is, describing the intricacies behind his and his opponent's strategies, the tactical justification of moves and the psychological battle in each one.

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Harness the beauty of the natural world to create unique textile art pieces. Learn how to create beautiful textile art inspired by details in nature in this practical and inspirational guide. Acclaimed textile artist Marian Jazmik shows how to use unusual recycled and repurposed materials combined with traditional fabric and thread. Marian reveals the secrets of her lushly textured and sculptural embroidered pieces, from initial photograph to finished object. Exploring nature as a constant source of inspiration, she shows how to turn a chance spotting of lichen on a tree trunk or a scattering of autumn leaves into glorious textile or mixed-media art. Marian goes on to explore the myriad of techniques she uses in her work, including: How to begin with photography, homing in on details in nature. How to manipulate images to create microscopic and surprising detail. How to translate the images into 3-D work, using an eclectic mix of natural and man-made textiles, as well as unusual recycled materials otherwise be destined for landfill (packaging, plastics and household DIY products). Hand and machine embroidery. Dyeing, printing and painting. Using heat gun and soldering iron to create heavily textured surfaces. Packed with practical tips, inspiration and illustrated throughout with glorious examples of Marian’s work, this book will provide you with endless imaginative ideas for distilling the wonders of nature into your own textile art.

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A charmingly illustrated ode to increasingly threatened wildlife. The much-loved illustrations of Hannah Dale celebrate a new generation of wildlife around the world, including many endangered animals. Born to Be Wild features 50 charming portraits of new cubs, chicks and calves, some with the mother and father, some in their pride or tribe and some setting off on their own. Wildlife has never been under such threat from climate change, habitation loss and poachers and hunters. This book is a timely reminder of the beauty of the wild and the accompanying text explains how the parents undertake their role of nurturer in the wild. From orangutans to humpback whales, tigers to hedgehogs, penguins to elephants, and meerkats to koalas, Hannah Dale captures and preserves the essence of wildlife in this pocket sized book. A wonderful reference and beautiful little gift book for nature lovers.

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