Search results for ""Amber Books Ltd""

Forests cover a large amount of our planet and are known as the lungs' that provide us the oxygen that we breathe. Moreover, forests also provide vital habitats for animals, regardless of what kind of forest it is the humid tropical jungle or the harsh boundless taiga, which stretches in the northern regions of Russia and Canada. In Forest Animals discover the many types of reptiles and rainforest animals popular across the world, from the smoky jungle frog, Costa Rica's largest frog species, to the rare Sumatran tiger, critically endangered due to deforestation of their home. Learn about a variety of animals from around the world: the tree kangaroo of Australia, the brown fish owl of Turkey and southeast Asia, the green oak tortix of Europe, commonly found in the UK and the black panther (leopard and jaguar variant) in tropical forests from Kenya to Thailand. Featuring detailed captions explaining the origins, habitat and behaviour of each fascinating species featured,

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180 photographs giving an illustrated history of D-Day Expert text explains the full context of the ''Longest Day'' as it became known Ideal introduction to the topic with informative captions

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Ancient Egypt is one of the great wellsprings of human civilization, first developing around the city of Memphis on the Nile River in the fourth millennium BCE. Egyptian life was centred on a complex system of religious rituals, with the pharaoh (king) seen as a living god among the people. Mighty pyramids, tombs and monuments were built to celebrate the pharaohs, many of which can still be seen in all their grandeur today. Arranged by dynastic period, Pharaohs offers a compact history of the reign of these god- kings, from Menes, who united the north and south kingdoms, to the Ptolemaic Queen Cleopatra, who was defeated along with her lover Mark Antony at the Battle of Actium (31 BCE) by imperial Rome. Along the way the reader will learn about the Great Pyramid constructed by Khufu, the last of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world; Queen Hatshepsut, a rare female pharaoh whose name means “foremost of noblewomen” and who launched a massive building programme at Luxor; the young pharaoh Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered intact in the Valley of the Kings, complete with the fabulous trappings of his divine status; and Ramesses II (“the Great”), who is thought to have enslaved the Israelites, built the magnificent temple of Abu Simbel, and defeated the Hittites at the Battle of Kadesh (1274 BCE) riding his trade-mark chariot. Carefully researched, superbly entertaining and illustrated throughout with more than 180 photographs and artworks, Pharaohs is an accessible history of the kings who ruled Ancient Egypt for more than 4,000 years.

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When we hear the word ‘reef’ we most often think of tropical coral reefs and, indeed, those are the most diverse habitats with thousands of different species living on them. But reefs can also be found off the coast of Canada, Brazil and even further north. Off Canada’s coast there are both the Atlantic deep-water coral habitat and the Pacific rocky reef habitat. Reefs is a pictorial celebration of the hugely varied marine life on coral, rock and sand reefs all around the world. From the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia, to Mabul Island off Borneo, from east African coral reefs stretching from the Red Sea down to Madagascar to the Amazon Reef off Brazil, from the Mesoamerican Reef off Belize to Vancouver Island, the book explores how life on each reef is interdependent. The book also includes examples of how coral bleaching has killed off reefs. Arranged geographically by reef and illustrated with more than 200 colour photographs, each entry is completed with a caption explaining the magnificent natural world on display. From the gender-swapping clownfish to single-cell zooxanthellae, from coral polyps to purple starfish to harlequin shrimp and octopuses, the book is a feast of marine life.

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The Luftwaffe – the German Air Force – played a crucial role in the Wehrmacht’s blitzkrieg tactics, providing both air cover and air artillery for Germany’s panzer troops on the ground. Germany’s successful invasions of France, the Low Countries, the Balkans and the Soviet Union are due in no small part to the professionalism, dedication and skill of the Luftwaffe. Broken down by campaign and key battles within each theatre of war, German Luftwaffe in World War II illustrates the strengths and organizational structures of the Third Reich’s Air Force, building into a detailed compendium of information. Full-colour order of battle tree diagrams at Luftflotte, Gruppe and Geschwader level help the reader understand how and where the fighters and bombers of the German Air Force were employed at any given time between 1939–45. Reference tables provide squadron strengths while organizational diagrams show the types and numbers of aircraft employed in specific operations, such as in the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940 and the opening stages of Operation Zitadelle in July 1943. With extensive organizational diagrams and full-colour operations maps, German Luftwaffe in World War II is an easy-to-use guide to the German Air Force. The book is an essential reference for any serious enthusiast of air warfare in World War II.

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Karl Marx is buried in London, John Keats in Rome and Leon Trotsky in Mexico. Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris is today known for the graves of Jim Morrison, Victor Hugo and Oscar Wilde, but when it opened in the early 19th century the owners felt that they needed some star names to make it a desired burial site – and so they had Molière’s body transferred there. Arranged thematically into 75 entries, Graves of the Great and Famous tours the world exploring the resting places of leading artists, thinkers, scientists, sportspeople, revolutionaries, politicians and pioneers. Some, such as communist leaders Ho Chi Minh and Vladimir Lenin, are interred in great mausoleums, where they are visited by millions each year; others are buried in little-known country graveyards. From lives cut short through assassinations – Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln – to those who suffered terrible accidents (Princess Diana), from mobsters such as Benjamin ‘Bugsy’ Siegel and John Gotti to Napoleon and his mistress Marie Walewska, from Nelson Mandela to Eva Peron, Graceland to Highgate Cemetery, the book provides a guide to some of the most famous and unusual graves of the great and the good. Featuring 150 photographs of graves, cemeteries, graveyards and mausoleums, Graves of the Great and Famous is a compact guide to the final resting place of the famous – and infamous.

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Illustrated with colourful artworks of carrier aircraft and their markings, Allied Carrier Aircraft of World War II is a detailed guide to all the aircraft deployed by the Allied navies from 1939 to 1945. Organised chronologically by type and nationality, this book includes fighters, fighter-bombers, torpedo bombers, dive-bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, floatplanes and flying boats. All the best-known types are featured, such as the Grumman F4F Wildcat, Douglas TBD Devastator and Douglas SBD Dauntless that fought at the battle of Midway in 1942, as well as the Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber that proved so effective at the Battle of Taranto in 1940 and helped sink the German battleship Bismarck in 1941. The entries are accompanied by exhaustive captions and specifications. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks, three-views, and special cutaway artworks of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the Blackburn Skua torpedo bomber, Curtiss SB2 Helldiver dive-bomber and the Vought F4U Corsair heavy fighter. Illustrated with more than 100 artworks, Allied Carrier Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and enthusiasts of military aircraft of World War II.

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Featuring more than 200 intriguing images taken by space probes travelling billions of kilometres from Earth, The Solar System is an exhilarating exploration of the mysteries of our local planetary space. Within the span of a human lifetime, our spacecraft have visited all eight planets of the Solar System, together with several dwarf planets, asteroids and comets. We have mapped the surface of Mercury and Venus in exquisite detail, landed rovers on Mars, placed orbiters around Jupiter and Saturn, and parachuted to the surface of Titan. Our emissaries have visited icy worlds five billion kilometres from home and continued onwards to reach interstellar space. The pictures and science returned by these intrepid travellers have transformed our understanding of the Solar System in which we live.

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Tanks features 52 of the best armoured fighting vehicles from World War I to the present day. Beginning with the prototype Mark V Male in 1917, the book ranges from World War I, World War II, through the Cold War and up to the highly sophisticated tanks that have seen recent service in wars in the Balkans, Caususus, and Middle East. From the Soviet T-34 and German Panther tanks of World War II to the M1A2 Abrams, Challenger 2 and T-90 of the present day, Tanks is an expert examination of the most successful tanks of the past hundred years. Each entry is examined over two spreads and includes a brief description of the tank's development and history, a colour profile artwork, photographs, key features and specifications tables. Packed with more than 200 artworks and photographs, Tanks is a colourful guide for the military historian and military technology enthusiast.

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Regarded as the cradle of Western civilization, Greece is the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, Western literature, political science, major mathematical principles and Western drama, as well as the Olympic Games. But it is also a country of mountains – 80 per cent of the country is mountainous – as well as islands – of more than 1,000 islands, 227 are inhabited. And it has the longest coastline of any Mediterranean country. From antiquity to modernity, from the tallest mountains to the tiniest islands, from the Romans to the Venetians to the Ottomans, Greece is a beautiful photographic exploration of this fascinating country. Arranged by region, the book celebrates such classical highlights as Athens’s Acropolis, the ruins at Mycenae in the Peloponnese, the Byzantine churches of Thessaloniki and the ancient Temple at Delphi. It also explores the beauty of the islands of the Aegean and the Ionian Sea, the Zagori mountains in the northwest of the country and the hydrothermal craters on Nisyros. Presented in a landscape format and with captions explaining the story behind each entry, Greece is a stunning collection of images celebrating one of the world’s most popular destinations.

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The Arctic may be cold, vast and beautiful, but it is also home to millions of people and animals. It is a region of extremes: extreme cold, extreme seasonal changes in daylight and extreme natural phenomena. It appears as an unwelcoming and hostile environment, but it is full of wildlife, from polar bears to beluga whales to snowshoe hares. Arctic is a fascinating photographic exploration of a region like no other. Be amazed by the natural wonder of the northern lights over the rugged yet enchanting landscapes, and see how humans live and survive in this hostile terrain that is now seeing rapid changes thanks to the rise in average global temperatures. See also how such activities as industry, tourism and research have changed the land. Presented in a landscape format and with captions revealing many fascinating but little- known facts about the history, climate and terrain of this frozen wonderland, Arctic is a stunning collection of 190 images.

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Classic superbikes are at the pinnacle of two-wheeled production engineering. Designed for adrenalin-inducing speed, breath-taking handling and head-turning good looks, these superb machines are the most glamorous and desirable bikes on the road. Classic Superbikes represents a fresh and informative approach to the subject. In handy pocket-sized form it chronicles 75 of the world’s greatest machines, from the earliest superbikes such as the Honda CBX 1000 and Suzuki RG500, to the Yamaha YZF R-1 and Ducati 996 SPS. Each of the 75 bikes in the book is examined in great detail over four pages. Stunning cut-out photography from a variety of angles and detailed annotations describe the motorcycle’s special features, while lively text explores the history of the bike and aspects of its design. For the real enthusiast there is a comprehensive specification box containing fact and figures, from engine size and tyre measurements to top speed, weight, power output and gearbox.

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Beaches, marshes, mangroves; cliffs, deserts, forests; bays, deltas, estuaries – coastlines take many different forms and are put to very different uses. From deserted beaches to busy ports, from pretty fishing villages to a surfers’ paradise, a salt marsh to a ship-breakers’ yard, Coasts celebrates where the land meets the sea. From beautiful coastal paths to the shipwrecks left high and dry in the Aral Sea, from world famous locations such as Copacabana Beach in Brazil and Big Sur in California to the little explored coastlines of Yemen and Oman, from Algeria to Antarctica, the Amalfi Coast to the Dead Sea, the book celebrates a huge range in coastlines from all around the world. Including nature reserves and tourist resorts, rugged landscapes and desert island tranquility, fjords and fossils, eroding cliffs to whole towns lost to the waters, the book explores coastlines in all climates and conditions around the globe. Presented in a landscape format and with captions explaining the story behind each entry, Coasts is a stunning collection of images and stories.

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When you think of London, what do you picture? Westminster Abbey? The electric lights of Piccadilly Circus? The grandeur of Buckingham Palace? Or do you see busy shopping areas, beautiful bridges and buzzing bars and restaurants? Or is it the parks, the boats on the River Thames and the bustling train stations that spring to mind? With London there are just so many intriguing sides to the city. In 200 outstanding images, London celebrates this remarkable capital city, from its world-famous landmarks to cobbled alleyways, from the dizzy heights of The Shard and The Gherkin down to its railway stations and deeper still to the city’s jam-packed underground. Ranging from both classic and modern landmarks, this book covers everything from parks to transportation. From tennis at Wimbledon to shopping at Harrods and afternoon tea at Claridge’s, Alastair Horne explores a plethora of aspects to this sprawling metropolis. Presented in a handy pocket-sized landscape format and with captions revealing many fascinating but little-known facts about the history and culture of this diverse city, London is a stunning collection of images of one of the world’s most iconic cities.

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In over 150 striking images, Italy celebrates perhaps the most beautiful country in the world. From the natural beauty of lakes such as Como or Garda to the vineyards in Tuscany to the many beaches, from the pretty seaside towns of the Cinque Terre to the glory of Venice’s canals and palaces, from the magnificence of classical antiquity in Rome to the Arab-Norman architecture of Palermo to Renaissance Florence, there is just so much to feast on in Italy. But apart from the famous highlights, the book also features lesser known sides to the country, be it pretty, unexplored corners and examples of everyday life, or the abandoned cave towns of Puglia and the 16th century star-shaped town of Palmanova. Presented in a landscape format and with captions explaining the story behind each entry, Italy is a stunning collection of images.

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The events of 1939–1945 had such a dramatic impact on the world that it is easy to forget that Allied victory was far from certain, especially in the early part of the war when both the Nazis in Europe and the Japanese in the Pacific were sweeping all before them. History of World War II chronicles the war as it happened, focusing on key battles and events that act as signposts in the slow change of fortunes of either side. Divided into two sections, one on each major theatre, the book describes such famous events as the attack on Pearl Harbor, the battle of Stalingrad, the Normandy landings, the fall of Berlin, and the struggle for Iwo Jima. Linking each famous event is an in-depth chronology detailing other events happening elsewhere, building into a snapshot of the war at that point. In each section are spreads comparing and contrasting the strengths of essential weapons in that battle: fighter aircraft in the Battle of Britain, tanks at Kursk, landing aircraft at D- Day and in the Pacific. Each of these spreads is packed with colourful diagrams, graphs and charts to help you grasp the relative strengths of, for example, different aircraft carriers at the Battle of Midway, US versus Japanese small arms at Okinawa and anti- tank guns in the Normandy campaign, among many other engagements. The final part of the book provides a chronology of the war. Highly illustrated with colour maps and both colour and black-and-white photographs and colour artworks, History of World War II is a both a handy reference volume on the progress of the conflict and the weapons used to fight it.

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From the American Civil War and the introduction of the metal cartridge in the 1860s up to the present day, The Encyclopedia of Weapons is an accessible reference guide to the most important small arms, armoured vehicles, aircraft and ships from all around the world. The book ranges from the first Gatling guns to favourites such as the Lee Enfield rifle and the AK-47; in terms of aircraft the book includes World War I biplanes, World War II’s Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighter and on to modern stealth aircraft; in naval weaponry the book features early ironclad submarines, classic ships such as Bismarck and the nuclear subs of today; from the first tanks on the Western Front in World War I, such as the Mark V Male, the book covers the development of armoured fighting vehicles, featuring such classics as the Soviet T-34 and modern tanks like the M1 Abrams. With an entry per page, each weapon is illustrated with two colour artworks – some of them cutaways – a colour or black-&-white photograph, an authoritative history on its development, production and service history and a box of essential specifications. Featuring more than 400 entries, The Encyclopedia of Weapons is a fascinating reference work on the most important tanks, guns, military ships and aircraft over the past 150 years.

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Ruined cities overgrown by jungle. Towns buried beneath the ground. Statues lying half- hidden in the sand. Why do civilisations collapse? Why are towns abandoned? And how do once mighty cities come to be forgotten about? From the pyramids of Egypt to the ruins at Angkor in Cambodia and on to the mysteries of the Easter Island moai statues, Abandoned Civilisations is a brilliant pictorial work examining lost worlds. What emerges is a picture of how vast societies can rise, thrive and then collapse. We admire how whole cities develop, but equally fascinating is what happens when their moment has passed. From the 9th century temples at Khajuraho in India which were lost in the date palm trees until stumbled across by European engineers in the 19th century to Mayan pyramids in the Guatemalan jungle to Roman cities semi-buried – but consequently preserved – in the North African desert, the book explores why societies fall and what, once abandoned, they leave behind to history. With 150 striking colour photographs exploring 100 worlds, Abandoned Civilisations is a fascinating visual history of the mysteries of lost societies.

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Nevermind, Achtung Baby, Use Your Illusion 1&2 – the 90s saw some classic albums produced by artists such as Nirvana, U2, Gun n’ Roses and Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as a resurgence in country music popularized by Shania Twain and Garth Brooks. Combining information from both the US and UK charts provided by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and British Phonographic Industry (BPI), 100 Best Selling Albums of the 90s features chart-topping work from Michael Jackson, Puff Daddy and Green Day. Each album entry is accompanied by the original sleeve artwork – front and back – and is packed full of facts and recording information, including a complete track listing, musician and production credits, and an authoritative commentary on the record and its place in cultural history. Soundtracks featured include the 60s and 70s hits on Forrest Gump, the Elton John/Tim Rice songs in The Lion King, and the orchestral score for Titanic (and Celine Dion’s Oscar-winning My Heart Will Go On). Other stand-out albums include the Eagles’ reforming to make Hell Freezes Over and Eric Clapton’s Unplugged, a career revival for him in the popular 90s back-to-basics semi-acoustic series. With vinyl sales now at their highest in 25 years, 100 Best Selling Albums of the 90s is an expert celebration of popular music from Sheryl Crow to Shania Twain, from the Spice Girls to the Backstreet Boys, from Gloria Estefan to Michael Jackson to Lauryn Hill.

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Aircraft of World War II details the design and specifications of 75 of the most important warplanes used during the conflict, from the venerable Fairey Swordfish biplane, through legendary aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire and Douglas C-47 Dakota, to the Messerschmitt Me-262, the first operational jet fighter. Presenting the information in an innovative format, the book features three-view colour artworks of each aircraft along with informed text giving a detailed account of the aircraft’s development. Examining each featured aircraft over two spreads, full technical information is provided for each type, including maximum speed, range and powerplant. Arranged by country, expertly written and attractively presented, Aircraft of World War II is an accessible guide for any aviation enthusiast.

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The names of dinosaurs are some of the first impressively long words that children learn. From Apatosaurus to Tyrannosaurus rex to Zephyrosaurus, The A-Z of Dinosaurs presents 26 fun dinosaurs to learn the names of. Each dinosaur is illustrated with an outstanding colour artwork, while a short description outlines the animal’s main characteristics. Also, there is a guide to the pronunciation of each animal’s name. Whether huge or tiny, famous or lesser-known, ferocious or gentle, each featured dinosaur is explored over one page. The A-Z of Dinosaurs is informative fun about the most fantastic beasts ever to roam the Earth.

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For 150 million years, dinosaurs were the undisputed rulers of the Earth. Today, these great lizards still fire our imaginations. Dinosaurs describes the creatures who lived during the great Age of Reptiles, the real-life giants and monsters such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Stegosaurus who once dominated our planet. This stunningly illustrated and accessible reference work features the most impressive and formidable dinosaurs to have been discovered. The entries are arranged by chronological period, running from the Triassic period through to the late Cretaceous, and each entry is illustrated throughout with full-colour annotated artworks. Each of the dinosaur features also includes information boxes containing key facts and figures. The text, using the latest palaeontological research, outlines how the dinosaurs lived and died. Readers will discover the fantastic, extraordinary and outlandish types of dinosaurs that once roamed the Earth – making Dinosaurs essential reading, not only for dinosaur enthusiasts, but for anyone intrigued by nature at its most majestic.

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Who were the greatest commanders of the American Civil War, and what made them so? In The Great Commanders of the American Civil War, the best military leaders of both sides are pitted against each other and their strengths and weaknesses examined – Robert E. Lee versus George Meade at Gettysburg, Ulysses S. Grant versus Albert Sidney Johnston at Shiloh, William Tecumseh Sherman versus John Bell Hood in the March to the Sea, along with eight other pairs. The book also explores a decisive battle between each pair of adversaries, highlighting the decisions made and why the battle was won. Each featured battle includes a contextual introduction, a description of the action, and an analysis of the aftermath. A specially commissioned colour map illustrating the dispositions and movement of forces brings the subject to life and helps the reader grasp the course of each battle. Featuring full-colour illustrations, paintings and photographs alongside the battle maps, The Great Commanders of the American Civil War is a fascinating comparison of the greatest Confederate and Union military leaders.

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Twice a year, 150 anxious recruits gather at SAS headquarters in the UK, their minds focused on one objective: to become SAS soldiers in one of the world’s most elite regiments. Yet between arriving and receiving the famous winged dagger badge, stands nearly four months of the toughest military selection process in the world. Could you rise to this exceptional challenge of mind and body? How to Pass the SAS and Special Forces Selection Course shows you how. Beginning with essential preparation, the book covers fitness training, navigation skills and the four-week selection course itself. Find out how to keep the instructors happy, how to deal with exhaustion during Test Week, and how to survive disaster strike on bleak mountains. But having been selected, there’s still training. Learn how the recruits acquire the skills of an SAS soldier, from hostage rescue to handling foreign weapons, from parachute training to surviving jungle courses, from escape and evasion to resistance and interrogation. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and instructive artworks and including first-hand accounts, How to Pass the SAS and Special Forces Selection Course is an exhaustive, lively guide to the process of becoming one of the world’s best soldiers.

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On the southern-most tip of the Earth lies one of the world’s biggest and most hostile landmasses. From the waters of the Southern Ocean to the ice-shelves, glaciers, volcanoes and mountains, Antarctica is one of the most mysterious yet intriguing continents in existence. It is the windiest, driest and coldest place on Earth making it uninhabitable for humans; however, the snow, ice, water and rocks make it simply stunning. Did you know that if you throw boiling water into the air in Antarctica, it will instantly vaporize? Despite these unimaginably harsh conditions, this unique continent is home to a vast array of wildlife; Penguins, seals and whales are among the animals that brave this frozen planet. From the Ross ice shelf – the largest ice shelf of Antarctica, to Mount Erebus – currently the most active volcano on the continent and from Shackleton’s Hut to an abandoned whaling station on Desolation Island, Antarctica is a fascinating exploration of this area of sublime beauty. Presented in a landscape format and with captions explaining the story behind each entry, Antarctica is a stunning collection of images celebrating this hostile yet striking continent.

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Birds of Prey or raptors are some of the most captivating bird species in the world. Think of eagles and condors, vultures, hawks and kites, but also owls and ospreys. With full captions explaining how the species hunt and feed, nest and rear their young, this is a brilliant examination in 240 outstanding colour photographs.

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Contains over 200 photographs with explanatory captions and text Includes rare photographs of German aircraft in action Written by a former head of Department of War Studies at RMA Sandhurst

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The United States Army Air Force (USAAF) came into its own during World War II, building some of the premier fighters of the era. American Fighter Aircraft of World War II is a detailed guide to all the fighter aircraft types deployed by the USAAF and US Navy from 1941 to 1945. Organised chronologically, this book includes all-time greats, such as the highly- adaptable P-51 Mustang bomber escort, the carrier-based F6F Hellcat – which outperformed the legendary Japanese A6M Zero fighter – and the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, with its distinctive twin-boom design; as well as lesser-known types, such as the Boeing P-26 Peashooter, the high-altitude Republic P-43 Lancer, and the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, the USAAF’s only operational jet fighter during the war. The entries are accompanied by exhaustive captions and specifications. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks and three-views, as well as two-page dynamic artworks of some of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the P-40 Warhawk ground-attack variant, the twin-engined P-61 Black Widow night-fighter, and the robust P-47 Thunderbolt fighter-bomber. Illustrated with more than 100 authentic artworks with accurate markings and camouflage, American Fighter Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and military aviation enthusiasts.

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Did you know that there are more than 60 active volcanoes in Europe today? Or that the longest-existing lava lake is in Ethiopia? Or that Mount Stromboli off the coast of Italy has been in almost continuous eruption for the past 2000 years? Illustrated with 200 spectacular photographs, Volcano is a fascinating visual journey around the globe, selecting the most striking live and extinct volcanoes from Alaska to Antarctica, from Tanzania to Tasmania, from Kamchatka in Russia’s far east to Indonesia and the Philippines. Alongside famous volcanoes such as Mount Etna in Sicily, Mount Vesuvius on the Italian mainland and Mount St Helens in Washington State, the book features many lesser known but equally interesting volcanoes across all the continents. Each entry is accompanied with a fascinating caption explaining not only the geological forces at work, but also how the volcano has shaped the history of the surrounding areas across millennia. Presented in a landscape format and with more than 190 outstanding colour photographs of around 100 entries, Volcano is a stunning collection of images.

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With the United States producing almost 90,000 AFVs during World War II, American tanks made up the bulk of those deployed by the western Allies, and were even supplied through the lend-lease scheme to the Soviet army on the Eastern Front. American Tanks of World War II explores the tanks, self-propelled guns, halftracks and armoured cars deployed by American forces, from the Torch landings in Algeria to the hard fighting in Normandy and the bitter Ardennes offensive. Organised chronologically by type, the entries include the M3 Stuart, the first American-crewed tank to engage the enemy in tank combat in the war; the ubiquitous M4 Sherman, which proved cheap and reliable and was built in great numbers and in many variants; the M22 Locust light tank, designed to be air-dropped in support of airborne units; and the M26 Pershing, a heavy tank that arrived late in the war and was capable of beating the best tanks Germany had to offer. There are also chapters on the many motor gun carriages used by US forces, including the M8 HMC and T12 halftrack, both designed to provide close support for infantry. Illustrated with expert colour profile artworks for each entry and completed with technical specifications, American Tanks of World War II is a detailed reference guide for modellers and enthusiasts with an interest in World War II AFV technology.

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Modern Artillery brings together 300 of the most important examples of artillery used or designed since 1900. Beginning with the guns that pounded the trenches in World War I, the book details all the major forms of artillery in service throughout the century. From hand-held anti-tank devices, anti-aircraft guns and field pieces of World War II to the recent tactical and strategic missiles, the book provides a wide survey of the development and use of artillery, with the entries conveniently placed into categories for easy reference. Each artillery piece featured is illustrated by a full-colour artwork and accompanied by a detailed specifications table giving the country of origin and technical details of the weapon, including where appropriate the calibre, elevation, muzzle velocity, traverse and range, all measurements being provided in imperial and metric. Each entry also contains a piece of text summarizing the weapon’s development and service history. Presented in a handy, pocket-book size, arranged by type and with 300 colour illustrations, Modern Artillery is an authoritative and accessible reference work, which will appeal to anyone with an interest in military technology.

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Aircraft of World War II contains 300 of the most important and influential military aircraft in service between 1939 and 1945. From Allied fighters to Axis bombers, from biplanes to flying boats, each of the aircraft featured is presented with a full colour profile artwork, alongside technical specifications and text explaining the aircraft’s development and service history. Including some of the most famous and beautiful aircraft of the twentieth century, Aircraft of World War II is a pocket-sized reference guide that will appeal to any reader interested in military technology, World War II and aviation.

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Illustrated with detailed artworks of modern military aircraft and their markings with exhaustive captions and specifications, Technical Guide: Modern Military Aircraft is an extensively researched review of the military aircraft deployed by the world’s air forces in recent conflicts in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere. Organised alphabetically by manufacturer, this book includes every type of aircraft in use in the world today, from the F-22 Raptor through the Dassault Mirage 2000 to the MiG-29 and Su-33. The book includes multirole fighters, ground attack aircraft, high-level bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, carrier aircraft, and unmanned drones. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks, three-views, and special cutaway artworks of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, Sukhoi Su-27 and Eurofighter Typhoon. Illustrated with more than 110 artworks, Technical Guide: Modern Military Aircraft is an essential reference guide for modellers and enthusiasts with an interest in modern military aircraft.

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Symbols are all around us – some mysterious, some timeless, some arcane and some prosaic. But what are their origins? What does the infinity symbol really signify? Do you understand yin and yang? And why is the swastika really a good luck sign? This enticing gift book explores the world of classic symbols and signs, revealing the deep meaning and often quirky history behind each one. From the ouroboros and the ankh to the menorah, caduceus and astrological symbols, the book ranges widely across the world’s most recognised symbols. With one symbol per page, accompanied by a detailed explanation and history, and printed on high quality paper with a special binding, Classic Symbols is a unique and attractive book which will appeal to a broad range of readers, both as a gift and as a source for tattoo designs and other creative projects.

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Illustrated with detailed artworks of World War II-era German aircraft and their markings with exhaustive captions and specifications, Luftwaffe Squadrons 1939–45: Identification Guide is the definitive study of the equipment and organisation of the Luftwaffe’s combat units. Organised by theatre of operations and the many campaigns fought by the Luftwaffe, the book describes in depth the various units that were fighting on the front at key points in the war and describes the models of aircraft in service with each unit along with their individual and squadron markings. With information boxes accompanying the full-colour artworks, Luftwaffe Squadrons 1939–45 is an essential reference guide for modellers and any enthusiast with an interest in the aircraft of the German war machine.

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Organised chronologically by type, German Bomber Aircraft of World War II offers a highly-illustrated guide to the main types of aircraft used by the German Luftwaffe during World War II. The book offers a comprehensive survey of German aircraft, from the Junkers Ju 87A Stuka dive-bomber and Dornier Do 17Z-2 that participated in the invasion of Poland, to the more sophisticated Arado Ar 234B-2, Heinkel He 177 and Junkers Ju 88S-1 of the final months of the war. All the major and many minor types are featured, including dive-bombers, two-seater bombers, ground attack aircraft, night bombers, strategic bombers and maritime bombers. This includes both well-known models, such as classic Heinkel He 111 and Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, to the lesser-known Blohm und Voss Bv 141A ground attack aircraft and Heinkel He 111H-2 designed to launch V-1 flying bombs. Each featured profile includes authentic markings and colour schemes, while every separate model is accompanied by exhaustive specifications. Packed with 110 full-colour artworks with detailed specifications, German Bomber Aircraft of World War II is a key reference guide for military modellers and World War II enthusiasts.

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Soviet Tank Units 1939–45 offers an highly-illustrated guide to the main armoured fighting vehicles used by the Red Army during World War II. This compact volume includes sample unit structures and orders of battle from company up to corps level, providing an organizational context for key campaigns throughout the war. Organised chronologically, the book offers a comprehensive survey of Soviet-employed armoured fighting vehicles by campaign, including the German invasion of 1941, the defence of Moscow, the Stalingrad counter-offensive, the battles of Kharkov and Kursk, Operation ‘Bagration’, and the final defeat of Axis forces in Berlin, Vienna and Budapest in May 1945. All the major and many minor tank that saw action on the Eastern Front is featured. The guide also includes numerous Lend-Lease Armoured fighting vehicles well as many examples of Soviet light vehicles, self-propelled guns, tractors and trucks. Packed with 250 full-colour artworks and photographs with exhaustive specifications, Soviet Tank Units 1939–45: Identification Guide is a key reference source for military modellers and World War II enthusiasts.

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We may think of churches, mosques, synagogues and temples as ordered places for organized religion. But what happens when the congregation moves away? Or when shifting borders or persecution mean that people can no longer reach them? And, in the absence of humankind, what happens when nature’s unceasing efforts invade the hallowed walls? Abandoned Sacred Places is a brilliant pictorial exploration of both ancient and modern temples, synagogues, churches, mosques and stone circles that have been left behind. From the mysteries around Stonehenge in England and Carnac in France constructed thousands of years ago to crumbling inner cities churches and synagogues in present-day Detroit and Chicago, from ancient Roman temples to Mayan pyramids in Mexico, and from Hindu temples lost in the Indian jungle to Buddhist shrines in the Chinese desert, the book shows what happens when humanity retreats and nature is allowed to reclaim the land. With 200 outstanding colour photographs exploring hauntingly beautiful locations, Abandoned Sacred Places is a moving examination of more than 100 lost worlds.

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Built to last, built to impress, built with style and grandeur – it is all the more remarkable when the most ostentatious of buildings fall into disrepair and become ruins. From imperial residences and aristocratic estates to hotels and urban mansions, Abandoned Palaces tells the stories behind dilapidated structures from all around the world. From ancient Roman villas to the French colonial hill station in Cambodia that was one of the final refuges of the Khmer Rouge, the book charts the fascinating decline of what were once the homes and holiday resorts of the most wealthy. Ranging from crumbling hotels in the Catskill Mountains or in Mozambique to grand mansions in Taiwan, and from an unfinished Elizabethan summerhouse to a modern megalomaniac’s estate too expensive ever to be completed, the reasons for the abandonment of these buildings include politics, bankruptcy, personal tragedies, natural and man-made disasters, as well as changing tastes and fashions. With 150 outstanding colour photographs exploring more than 100 hauntingly beautiful locations, Abandoned Palaces is a brilliant and moving pictorial examination of worlds we have left behind.

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Where in the world do passenger planes land on the beach each day? Where might you search for the world’s most famous underwater monster? Where would you find a capital city with more listed buildings than anywhere else in the world? Yes, in Scotland of course. The airport runway on the island of Barra is, simply, the beach. People still flock to Loch Ness in the hope of seeing the Loch Ness Monster. And Edinburgh has more listed buildings than any other capital city. Scotland is a fascinating exploration of the most beautiful country of the British Isles. From the pretty Georgian streets of Edinburgh’s New Town to the Victorian grandeur and Art Deco delights of Glasgow, from the remote islands in the Hebrides to the bustle of the Edinburgh Festival, from Europe’s oldest tree (a 3,000-year old twisted yew) to the majesty of Glenfinnan viaduct – made even more famous by the Harry Potter films – the book is packed with 200 spectacular colour photographs. Presented in a landscape format and with captions explaining the story behind each entry, Scotland is a stunning collection of images celebrating this beautiful country.

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If you’re born in the Chinese year of the Rat, what are your characteristics? With whom is someone born in the year of the Ox most compatible? And what are the worst flaws associated with your Chinese star sign? Chinese Astrology is a beautifully illustrated guide with easy-to-use instructions to help you understand the fundamental ideas and determine the more advanced aspects: how does the year of your birth affect your personality? What elements are associated with your horoscope? What celebrities are the same Zodiac animal as you? Each page includes a newly commissioned artwork of a Chinese character, from the 12 animals of the Zodiac and the 12 Earthly Branches to the five phases and 10 Heavenly Stems. This is accompanied by an explanation of each character and its significance within Chinese astrology. Illustrated with more than 85 specially commissioned artworks, Chinese Astrology is the perfect guide to your inner and outer life.

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From the crude, unreliable tanks that first appeared on the Western Front during World War I to today’s high-tech machines, Tanks and Military Vehicles features 300 of the most important and influential tanks and AFVs from 1916 to the present day. With a page per entry, each vehicle is illustrated by a full-colour side-profile artwork, and accompanied by a detailed specifications table giving country of origin, crew, weight, dimensions, armour, armament, powerplant, and performance, all measurements in imperial and metric. In addition, there is accompanying text for each vehicle that summarises the vehicle’s development and service history. Arranged by type from main battle tanks to tank destroyers to armoured cars, amphibious vehicles and anti-aircraft guns, Tanks and Military Vehicles ranges from the Mark V Male to the Tiger, Sherman and T-34 and on up to the M1 Abrams, Challenger and Warrior of today. Presented in a handy, pocket-book format, Tanks and Military Vehicles is colourful, packed with information and offers a great insight into the development of land warfare over the past century.

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A rusting anti-aircraft fort in the North Sea. A German submarine base in France. A Flak tower in a Viennese park — more than 70 years after the end of World War II, its legacy can still be seen from Europe to Japan. World War II Abandoned Places explores more than 100 bunkers, pillboxes, submarine bases, forts and gun emplacements from the North Sea to Okinawa. Included are defensive structures, such as the Maginot Line on France’s eastern border with Germany, Germany’s own western and eastern border defences, and the Atlantic Wall, the German-built bunkers and pillboxes on the coast from Denmark down to Brittany. The book also includes both Hitler’s and Himmler’s Eastern Front bunkers in Poland. But beyond the military installations, the book explores the ruins of concentration camps, the empty village of Oradour-Sur-Glane, Hitler’s mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden and the dilapidated Nazi party rally grounds in Nuremberg, among other non-military places. With 150 outstanding colour photographs, World War II Abandoned Places is a brilliant pictorial examination of both the military and non-military legacy of the conflict.

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For more than 3,000 years, Egypt was home to the greatest civilization on earth. Illustrated with more than 1,500 photographs and specially commissioned illustrations, The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt is a celebration of the wonders of ancient Egypt, from the mask of Tutankhamun to the Valley of the Kings and the great pyramids of Giza, and from tomb hieroglyphs to golden treasures decorated with ankhs and scarabs. Exploring the history, religion, literature, and art of the ancient Egyptians, as well as the day-to-day experience of ordinary citizens such as pyramid builders, scribes, and craftsmen, this book brings to life the world of the pharaohs in vivid detail, providing a wealth of information about this fascinating and mysterious culture.

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SAS and Special Forces Mental Toughness Training examines what it takes to be as mentally fit as a special forces soldier. The book explains why it is equally important to focus on stress management and mental discipline as it is to concentrate on push-ups, sit-ups and other physical exercises. Using simple steps, the book shows the reader how they can build up their endurance over a matter of weeks and months, and how their quality of life will benefit. SAS and Special Forces Mental Toughness Training demonstrates how you can gain the psychological edge over your opponent, as well as ready yourself for critical challenges ahead. Whether you are competing in unarmed combat sports, running a marathon or just looking to get ahead, SAS and Special Forces Mental Toughness Training will have helpful and practical advice for you. The book includes a number of military training programmes designed to assess a trainee’s fitness for the arduous life of a combat soldier, as well as chapters on leadership, battle tactics, escape and survival techniques, and improving intelligence and concentration. SAS and Special Forces Mental Toughness Training is an essential guide to testing and improving mental agility and resilience in the modern combat environment.

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Highly-illustrated guide to the submarines of the Second World War Contains 100 artworks of every major submarine type Includes specifications for each separate type of sub

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Discover more about Robert the Bruce and other unforgettable figures that made Scotland the great nation it is today. Through fascinating images and expert text, A History of Scotland takes you through each decade of Scotland's varied and dramatic past up to the present day. A History of Scotland provides a pictorial exploration from the times of the Neolithic stone circles of Orkney to the turbulent referendums of the contemporary era. The book is arranged chronologically, from the roman invasion of Scotland in the 1st century to Mary Queen of Scots and her downfall, David Hume and Adam Smith, Dolly the Sheep in 1997 and the construction of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in the 21st Century.

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For centuries we have been fascinated with fairies, mythical beings often possessing intriguing magical powers to curse, trick or heal humans. The label of ''fairy'' has at times applied only to specific magical creatures with human appearance, magical powers, and a penchant for trickery. At other times it has been used to describe any magical creature, such as goblins and gnomes. In Fairies, discover the charming story behind our best loved magical characters, including the Fairy Godmother, Shakespeare's Titania and the beloved Tinker Bell. Myths and stories about fairies do not have a single origin, but are rather a collection of folk beliefs from disparate sources. Various folk theories about the origins of fairies include casting them as either demoted angels or demons in a Christian tradition, as deities in Pagan belief systems, as spirits of the dead, as prehistoric precursors to humans, or as spirits of nature. Fairies is a pocketful of delight, packed with

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