Search results for ""author ian"

‘Brilliant. Among the best novels I know about the fate of American innocence abroad’ Garth Greenwell So. We were Americans abroad. We weren’t the doomed travellers in a Paul Bowles novel, and we weren’t the idealists or the malarial, religion-damaged burnouts in something by Greene; but we were people far from home nevertheless. Our naivety didn’t have political consequences. We had G.P.S. in our smartphones. I don’t think we were alcoholics. Our passports were in the same drawer as our collection of international adapters, none of which seemed to fit in Brazilian wall sockets. My husband was in the chrysalis stage of becoming a rich man, and idealism was never my vice. I was ancillary – a word that comes from the Latin for ‘having the status of a female slave’. That’s the sort of thing I know, and it tells you something about how I misspent my education. The term among expats for people like me was ‘trailing spouse’ . . . ‘Captivating’ Irish Times ‘Devastating, funny and wise’ Garth Greenwell ‘A triumph’ Samantha Harvey ‘A writer so gifted with language that you forget who you are in the poetry of his prose’ Uzodinma Iweala ‘Magnificent, profound, and true’ Elisa Albert ‘Reminded me in parts of Maggie Nelson. Stunning’ Sophie Mackintosh

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Do you understand ‘textbook English’ recordings but not what you hear in the real world? To improve your listening skills, you need to hear real conversations. That’s why Collins Listening is based entirely on 50 authentic everyday interactions to help you understand what is said to you, whatever the circumstances. From buying a mobile phone to asking for directions, joining a gym to understanding transport announcements, Listening will help you understand what is said to you in real life situations and make sure everything you learn is useful. Twenty 4-page units with exercises and vocabulary work to help you understand differences in pronunciation and vocabulary Authentic recordings of both native and non-native speakers of English, covering a wide variety of accents from around the world Recordings include face-to-face conversations, public announcements, telephone calls, bookings, shopping scenarios and more Additional real vocabulary for everyday life, taken from the COBUILD English corpus Collins Listening is part of the new English for Life series and uses authentic material from the Collins Corpus, the world’s largest database of the English language. It is suitable for self-study and classroom use, and can help towards Cambridge FCE preparation. Suitable for Intermediate learners of English (CEF level B1+).

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On the surface, Richard Ainsworth has life where he wants it. Middle-aged navel gazing and Olympic levels of procrastination are exactly what rural life in France should be about. Then crisis hits his posh B&B when redoubtable housekeeper, Madame Tabli

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Production of Ducati Bevel Twins spanned 15 years, and nowadays a restored bike with original parts will be worth about double the value of one with the wrong parts/detailing. There have been so many variations over the years that most people have no idea what is correct for a particular model. A would-be buyer's first question is always "how authentic is the bike?", not whether it is beautifully restored. So this book is a comprehensive guide to authenticity. The content includes colour codes, stripe widths, decal placement, etc. The practical chapters are by necessity broad. For instance, there were five fork types, more than five shock absorber types (many not rebuildable), more than five brake types and ten different frame types. These practical chapters cover little tricks in assembly and offer general advice rather than a detailed workshop manual-type description.

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This is an introduction to the Buddhist faith and its practice worldwide, in over 300 artworks and photographs. This is a fascinating and informative guide to the Buddhist faith, from the life of the Buddha through to modern-day Buddhism. It looks at the different schools of Buddhism around the world and how they have evolved. Special themed features focus on Buddhist art, symbolism and architecture, as well as Buddhist Holy days, festivals and rituals. It examines key themes such as the role of women in Buddhism, the importance of the pagoda, and the suppression of the Buddhist faith. It is beautifully illustrated with more than 300 inspirational photographs of paintings, statues, important historical sites and archaeological finds. This richly illustrated reference introduces and explains Buddhist philosophy and how it is practised worldwide. The book opens by exploring the roots of Buddhism through the Buddha's life and teachings, and then explores the practice of Buddhism today, and how the Buddhist faith is followed and interpretated around the world. There is fascinating information on the different Buddhist schools, such as Theravada, Zen, Pure Land and Nichiren, and of the key masters central to them. Beautifully illustrated in 300 inspiring images, this book is the perfect introduction for those new to Buddhism, and a vital resource for students and scholars alike.

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Five kids are on a sleepover in a restored wilderness project in Ireland. With them, three teachers and one Ranger: Lisa. She is 26, longing to leave her job, out of her depth and soon to find herself mired in a nightmare. Strange things have been happening at Lough Carrow, a vast rewilding project on the site of a former commercial peat-bog. Livestock mutilations. Rumours, myths from the neighbouring villages. Strange, unidentifiable tracks. On the trek in to the sleepover site they sight animals that have not yet been introduced to the park - wolves, wolverines, things older. Things thought long extinct. As they near the centre of the wilding a boy realises he''s forgotten his meds. A teacher volunteers to take him back to the visitor centre. Sure, what could go wrong? That night the camp is attacked. A teacher is dragged away. Lisa''s group is marooned in the wild. It is night, the four remaining kids are terrified, they need to get back to the ARK, but th

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Oxford Revise Edexcel A Level Maths is a complete revision and practice guide covering the full specification and containing everything you need to revise. All key knowledge is clearly covered across Pure, Mechanics and Statistics. You will build your confidence for the exams across all topics, including questions about the large data set.By working through the Knowledge - Retrieval - Practice sections, you will be using proven ways to revise, check and recall so that what you revise sticks. Knowledge Organisers arrange the information you need to revise helping you make connections with what you already know. Worked examples with helpful annotations walk you through key techniques and common question types. An online glossary helps you learn the definitions of key terms. Use Retrieval questions to check that you remember what you''ve already revised and beat the forgetting curve. Exam-style Practice questions give you loads of experience of the type of question you will face in your e

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The seventh novel in the Ava Lee series finds Ava caught up in the election for the chairmanship of the Triad Societies.It’s been three months since Uncle’s passing, and Ava is finally ready to begin her new life as a partner with May Ling Wong and her sister-in-law Amanda in their Three Sisters venture capital firm. Ava travels to Shanghai to hear a pitch on a new investment possibility: the creation of a fashion line by Clark and Gillian Po. She also meets with the mysterious Xu, a young man Uncle had been mentoring and who is the head of the triad in Shanghai. Xu makes an audacious business proposal that she and May Ling are compelled to consider. Meanwhile, separately and privately, he confides to Ava that he intends to run for the chairmanship of the Triad Societies and attempts to recruit her as his adviser.Against her will, Ava becomes enmeshed in triad warfare and her future is threatened . . .

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German Army on the Eastern Front - The Advance is a highly illustrated record of the extraordinary feat of arms that saw the Nazi armies drive deep into the vast terrain of the Soviet Union, to the gates of Stalingrad and Moscow. It traces the campaign from these hopeful beginnings until, on the brink of victory, the defenders and the winter contrived to slow and then halt the advance. It vividly conveys the appalling conditions endured by the invaders. By early 1943 the German advance finally petered out, leaving some 1.5 million dead from the battle of Stalingrad alone. The long and costly retreat was about to begin.

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A fascinating selection of images documenting tug boats around Britain. It is illustrated by previously unpublished photographs from the authorâs collection.

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A series of essays by different contributors exploring what Messy Church brings to the wider church, how these different forms of church community can coexist, and what this might mean for the future of the church. Questions addressed include: What will church look like in 20 years' time? How can Messy Church help Christians unite a passion for mission with a heart for ministry? What can Messy Church and Sunday Church learn from each other?

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This title helps you in mastering the art of drawing and painting with step-by-step projects and techniques shown in over 2450 photographs. This is a boxed set of fully illustrated practical guides to painting and drawing with watercolours, oils, acrylics, gouaches and charcoal. It includes a complete guide to artist's materials. This is a comprehensive teaching course from beginner level to advanced skills: the different strokes, washes, and how to mix the paints to create the right palette, drawing outlines, shading and tonal work, line and wash, sketching, using negative spacing, blending, frottage and sgraffito, as well as fundamental principles such as understanding perspective, composition and colour. This instructive painting course offers step-by-step projects to help you to put the basics into practice. There are projects for beginners, and others for intermediate painters, grouped by subject and by complexity. Covering the varied media of watercolours, acrylics, oils, gouache and drawing, this new box set is the perfect practical art guide whether you are a complete beginner or a more experienced artist looking for inspiration and to expand your skills. Each concisely written, beautifully illustrated book begins with a helpful introduction that explains the basics for each technique, plus some of the fundamentals of art, such as colour theory, scale and perspective. Each then offers small-scale practice exercises and 20 to 25 projects, shown step by step. Whatever your level of experience, these accessible and inspiring handbooks are packed with practical advice and tips for every new artist.

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Peter Fortune is a boy who likes to daydream. He dreams about swapping bodies with his cat and with his baby cousin, but he gets so lost he's unsure where one fantasy finishes and the next begins. Cartwheeling through these transformations, Peter eventually finds himself in an adult body experiencing the adventure of falling in love.'As far-fetched and funny as anything by Roald Dahl' Vogue'Perfectly judged, scary, poignant, meaningful; he makes it look easy, but this is brilliantly achieved' Guardian

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Milk cans, milk churns, or milk pails have been used for centuries which is why they are some of the most photographed of all farmyard objects. Here, for the first time, the diversity in size, shape and design of milk cans is presented in a comprehensive and full-color publication. The iconic shape of the typical milk can has inspired toymakers, artists, playwrights, novelty manufactures, and sports minded people. Milk cans often become family treasures handed down through the generations; insights about these and other social aspects of the milk can are included. In some countries milk tankers have replaced milk cans while bright shiny plastic milk cans appear to be replacing steel cans in others. This entire book is dedicated to the celebration of milk cans and their history, use, and design.

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The history of the world’s most successful endurance racing car: the Audi R8. Featuring reports of all of its 80 races, plus profiles of the 35 drivers who raced the car between 2000 and 2006 – as well as the Audi R8R and R8C of 1999.   With individual chassis details, results and observations from significant individuals involved with the R8, and iIllustrated in colour throughout with many previously unpublished photos, this book is a must for all endurance racing fans.

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Heavy rain has drenched the garden and the lawn is waterlogged. The garden''s annual sports day is in jeopardy! Can Albert come up with a plan to save the day? Albert and his friends make a splash and learn it''s not always winning that''s important.

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Don't just see the sights-get to know the people. Ghana is among the friendliest and safest countries in Africa. Visitors are warmly welcomed but are expected to be sympathetic to local customs and beliefs, and to follow certain codes of conduct. Culture Smart! Ghana describes the complexities and nuances of Ghanaian society with clarity and humor, and offers the reader an opportunity to get to know Ghanaians on their own terms, and to enjoy all that this beautiful country has to offer. Have a more meaningful and successful time abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on values, attitudes, customs, and daily life will help you make the most of your visit, while tips on etiquette and communication will help you navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.

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This is a big story. The Coppolas are one of the great American filmmaking dynasties, a classic example of an immigrant family who have thrived in America — the parallels with the Corleones of The Godfather are there for all to see, albeit without the organised crime. Centred on two extraordinary filmmaking generations: father and daughter Francis Ford Coppola and Sofia Coppola, each in different ways has defined their times. And of course, their stories are intimately entwined. But the story will encompass so much more than the careers of two directors. There will be subplots extending out across the Coppola clan to include Nicolas Cage, Talia Shire, Roman Coppola, Jack Schwartzman and lesser-known scions like Marc and Christopher Coppola. It is also the case that the respective stories of Francis and Sofia offer a fascinating insight into the changing face of Hollywood and American culture from the seventies until now. It is also a book about America, a land of opportunity and the template on which the Coppolas can forge their art.

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In the latest installment of the Ava Lee novels, Ava must infiltrate the seedy world of the Chinese film industry to protect the woman she loves. Ava travels to Beijing for the premiere of Mao’s Daughter, the latest film starring her secret lover, Pang Fai. After the screening, a distraught Fai tells Ava that she is being blackmailed by senior officials of the China Movie Syndicate, who seek sexual favours in return for their continued support of Fai’s career and films. When Fai resists, the threats become increasingly menacing and include the release of scandalous videos of the young Fai that could end her career entirely.Working alongside Fai and several of her friends, Ava delves deep into the dark side of the Chinese film industry in an attempt to liberate her lover from the grasp of the Syndicate. But can Ava save Fai from her memories?

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A full-colour exploration of desert environments. Incorporating photographs and diagrams, it seeks to convey essential information on the topic, in line with the National Curriculum, and is ideal for school libraries and topic work for children between the ages of eight and ten, school years 4-5. It is part of a series of four titles on themes related to natural environments. Each title incorporates features of non-fiction texts that pupils are required to study in literacy lessons, such as contents lists, diagrams, flow charts, captions, report writing, glossaries and indexes.

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A full-colour exploration of grassland environments. Incorporating photographs and diagrams, it seeks to convey essential information on the topic, in line with the National Curriculum, and is ideal for school libraries and topic work for children between the ages of eight and ten, school years 4-5. It is part of a series of four titles on themes related to natural environments. Each title incorporates features of non-fiction texts that pupils are required to study in literacy lessons, such as contents lists, diagrams, flow charts, captions, report writing, glossaries and indexes.

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This kit provides fun reading practice for children who have mastered the basics of phonics. It''s an ideal way to help support your child''s school phonics learning in Year 1/P2.The kit includes: Six fiction and non-fiction books that children will be able to read using their phonic knowledge. Leaflet to demystify phonics and explain the Phonics Screening Check, so you can feel confident supporting your child. Poster and stickers to keep your child motivated and engaged.My Phonics Activity Kit 3 covers sounds at Letters and Sounds Phase 4 and 5 that children learn in Year 1/P2. Look out for Essential Letters and Sounds Phonics Flashcards Pack 3 for more support of Phase 5 sounds.Essential Letters and Sounds is a phonics programme aligned to Letters and Sounds, designed to get all children to read well, quickly, published by Oxford University Press. Expertly developed by teachers from Knowledge Schools Trust, it is fully validated by the Department for Education. This kit can be us

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Financial English is a language practice book for anyone learning about or working in finance. It is designed for students preparing for careers in business and finance as well as for people already working who wish to improve their English in this specialised field. It is suitable for learners at Intermediate level and above. The book can be used as the core material for a course, and also by students working alone. Financial English covers: ��� Numbers ��� Accounting ��� Banking ��� Corporate Finance ��� Trade and Economics. The units present and explain the fundamental concepts of the different areas of finance, and define essential vocabulary and terminology, as well as common financial idioms and metaphors. Financial English contains a full answer key.

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Air-conditioning is one of those universal modern conveniences whose origins are entirely unknown to the general public. Online sources credit the first commercial system to the American Willis Carrier in 1902 but this is not true. The first workable machine was patented four years earlier by Alexander Stewart, a Scottish marine engineer, who called his invention the Thermotank. It offered a massive improvement in comfort for passengers and was rapidly adopted by the shipping industry, eventually equipping many of the greatest liners of their day like _Lusitania_ and _Mauretania_. From these beginnings Alexander and his brothers William and Frederick Stewart built an immensely successful engineering firm with subsidiaries in America, Africa, Australia and Europe. Based on Clydeside, its fortunes were always closely linked to the shipbuilding industry, but with the slump at the end of the First World War the company was forced to look to other markets. At this point Alexander came up

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Updated to include the 2007 decision Gonzales v. Carhart, this volume provides all of the major Supreme Court decisions on abortion--as well as many majority, dissenting, and plurality opinions--carefully edited for use in undergraduate and graduate courses in a variety of disciplines. In his introductory essay, Shapiro sets these cases in political, historical, and philosophical context, and gives the reader a sense of what the main issues in the constitutional law of abortion are likely to be in the future.

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