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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING NOVEL FROM WILLIAM GIBSON, THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF NEUROMANCER-----San Francisco, 2017. Clinton's in the White House, Brexit never happened - and Verity Jane's got herself a new job.They call Verity 'the app-whisperer,' and she's just been hired to evaluate a pair-of-glasses-cum-digital-assistant called Eunice...Only Eunice has other ideas.Pretty soon, Verity realises that Eunice is smarter than anyone she's ever met. Which is just as well since suddenly some very bad people are after Verity.Meanwhile, in a post-apocalyptic London a century from now, PR fixer Wilf Netherton is tasked with interfering in the alternative past in which Verity and Eunice exist. It appears something nasty is about to happen there - and fixing it will require not only Eunice's unique human-AI skillset but also a little help from the future.A future that Verity fears may never be . . .-----'Dazzling, astoundingly inventive' The Times'Wild, richly satisfying' Guardian'Terrific' Spectator'Rattles along with great pace and suspense' Sunday Times'One of our greatest science-fiction writers' New York Times'A sensual, remarkably visual ride' Guardian'Among our most fascinating novelists' Daily Telegraph

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Colm Toibin's Brooklyn is a devastating story of love, loss and one woman's terrible choice between duty and personal freedom. The book that inspired the major motion picture starring Saoirse Ronan.It is Ireland in the early 1950s and for Eilis Lacey, as for so many young Irish girls, opportunities are scarce. So when her sister arranges for her to emigrate to New York, Eilis knows she must go, leaving behind her family and her home for the first time.Arriving in a crowded lodging house in Brooklyn, Eilis can only be reminded of what she has sacrificed. She is far from home - and homesick. And just as she takes tentative steps towards friendship, and perhaps something more, Eilis receives news which sends her back to Ireland. There she will be confronted by a terrible dilemma - a devastating choice between duty and one great love.***'With this elating and humane novel, Colm Tóibín has produced a masterwork' Sunday Times 'Unforgettable' Spectator'The most compelling and moving portrait of a young woman I have read in a long time' Zoë Heller Guardian, Books of the Year 'Magnificent' Sunday Telegraph'A work of such skill, understatement and sly jewelled merriment could haunt your life' Ali Smith TLS, Books of the YearWhen you are finished why not read the companion novel Nora Webster.

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Simon Baron-Cohen's The Essential Difference: Men, Women and the Extreme Male Brain is an unflinching look at the scientific evidence behind the innate sex differences of the mind. Men and women have always seemed to think in entirely different ways, from conversation and communication to games and gadgets. But are these differences created by society, or do our minds come ready-wired one way or another, with female brains tending towards interaction and male towards organisation? And could this mean that autism - rather than being a mental anomaly - is in fact simply an extreme male brain? Why are female brains better at empathasing? How are male brains designed to analyse systems? And what really makes men and women different? Simon Baron-Cohen explores list-making, lying and two decades of research in a ground-breaking examination of how our brains can be male or female but always completely fascinating. 'Compelling ... Inspiring'  Guardian 'This is no Mars/Venus whimsy, but the conclusion from twenty years of experiment'   Evening Standard 'A devastating contribution to the gender debate'  Mail on Sunday 'A fascinating, thought-provoking book'  Observer Simon Baron-Cohen is Professor at Cambridge University in the fields of psychology and psychiatry. He is also the Director of Cambridge's internationally renowned Autism Research Centre. He has carried out research into social neuroscience over a career spanning twenty years. He is the author of Mindblindness and Zero Degrees of Empathy.

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A timeless treasury of more than 100 stories from the incredible kingdom of plants, told by author and nature expert Ben Hoare.Plants are found almost everywhere on Earth, but to many people, their lives are a mystery. Learn how seagrass flowers underwater, how the Venus flytrap counts to make sure it catches its prey, and why some tulips used to cost more than a house! This fascinating book for kids explores the vast plant kingdom and explains how plants work, as well as the weird and wonderful relationships they have with animals.Children can discover the secrets of more than 100 amazing plants in this treasury of fascinating flora, as well as the essentials of plant science, including photosynthesis, pollination, and germination. Each species is shown with remarkable photography and beautiful illustrations, all brought to life by Ben Hoare's writing, filled with charm and infectious enthusiasm. This nature book for children ages 7+ features:- An eye-catching holographic cover, gilded edges, and stunning photography and illustrations, making it the perfect gift - A wide range of incredible plants and trees from all around the world- Illustrated diagrams to support definitions of different types of plants - Introductory reference pages that explain key topics such as photosynthesisThis book is a must for any child interested in the natural world and the plants that grow in it. Plants provide us with food, fuel, and medicine, and without them, life as we know it would not exist. From orchids that grow vanilla pods to leaves that look like stones, and from bamboo that can be made into clothes to moss that soaks up vast amounts of carbon dioxide, plants shape our world in an endless variety of ways.

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The third hilarious accidental diary from Billie Upton Green (don't call her BUG!)"Ideal for fans of Tom Gates, or Pamela Butchart's books . . . a wonderful new series" - The Week Junior"Fun, funny, inclusive and warm-hearted, these books are pure, cheery joy" - Sophie AndersonThere's an exciting addition to the Upton Green family (and it's not whatever Mr Paws has left on the living room carpet...).But getting a new little sister isn't nearly as straightforward as Billie expects. Why are there so many rules? It's been weeks and weeks, and she still hasn't been able to hold the baby up at Show & Tell.Luckily, the school musical is in full swing, giving Billie the perfect distraction. She just needs to watch out for Painy Janey, who has her eyes on the main part and doesn't care what gets in her way...

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The extraordinary Bill Bryson takes us from the Big Bang to the dawn of science in this book about basically everything.Ever wondered how we got from nothing to something?Or thought about how we can weigh the earth?Or wanted to reach the edge of the universe?Uncover the mysteries of time, space and life on earth in this extraordinary book - a journey from the centre of the planet to the dawn of the dinosaurs, and everything in between. And discover our own incredible journey, from single cell to civilisation, including the brilliant (and sometimes very bizarre) scientists who helped us find out the how and why.Adapted from A Short History of Nearly Everything, the ground-breaking bestseller, this book is stunningly illustrated throughout, and accessible for all ages ************************************************************************Reviews for A Short History of Nearly Everything:'It's the sort of book I would have devoured as a teenager. It might well turn unsuspecting young readers into scientists.' Evening Standard'I doubt that a better book for the layman about the findings of modern science has been written' Sunday Telegraph 'A thoroughly enjoyable, as well as educational, experience. Nobody who reads it will ever look at the world around them in the same way again' Daily Express 'The very book I have been looking for most of my life' Daily Mail

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Come along backstage and peek inside the spectacular and sometimes scandalous world of musical theatre.See the world's most-loved musical productions come to life in this lavishly illustrated book!This show-stopping reference book includes:- A chronological structure that makes the book work as a history of musicals- Includes a 20-page reference section with key details on over 100 additional musicals- Neat timelines summarise the plot, characters, and songs for 20 top musicalsFrom The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music to Mamma Mia and Les Misérables, fall in love all over again with the songs, stories, characters, creators, and legendary stars from every era of musical theatre. Take a journey through the years and immerse yourself in the behind-the-scenes world of musical theatre! From the dance halls and vaudeville to the silver screen and sensational Broadway shows, this go-to musical guide has all the glitter and glamour of the West End. It's Showtime! Delve into profiles of successful creators such as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Packed with profiles of musical icons and fun infographics that summarise the plot, characters and songs, Musicals: The Definitive Visual Guide is the perfect way to embrace your inner "theatre geek". With a foreword by Elaine Paige, this updated edition gives greater coverage on the smash-hit Hamilton and includes mention of new and popular stage and movie musicals. It's a must-have or the ultimate gift for musical theatre fans.Complete the Series:If you enjoyed this illustrated celebration of musicals, look out for more titles in this series from DK. Uncover the most mesmerising moments in ballet history in Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story.

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Learn more than 130 fully illustrated techniques and stitches and put them into practice as you go, creating 80 imaginative projects for home and to wear.Packed with step-by-step photography and clear instructions, The Crochet Book has everything you need to crochet a gorgeous array of clothing, soft furnishings, and toys. Get to grips with your first crochet hook, work a range of classic granny squares, and discover how to craft delicate lace and openwork pieces. Practise your newly learned skills on simple projects as you move through the book, or dive straight into the dedicated projects chapter, which includes amigurumi and toy designs, blankets and cushions, and individual clothing for children and adults.Inside The Crochet Book you will find: - Easy-to-follow directions with close up photos of the stitches.- Over 130 key techniques and 80 projects to create.- Advice on yarn and tools.Newly updated with a fresh design and brand-new photography that shows the stitches with gorgeous clarity. Learn how to read patterns so you can go from novice to expert crocheter in no time! Whether a gift or self-purchase for first-time crocheters who are keen to master the basics and progress at their own pace or experienced crocheters of all levels looking for an at-a-glance visual reference for tricky techniques, The Crochet Book is sure to delight. At DK, we believe in the power of discovery: So why stop there? If you like The Crochet Book, then why not try The Sewing Book - the only sewing reference book you will ever need to create stunning stitches and so much more!

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Escape the frenetic modern world and embark on a journey of a lifetime. Ever dreamed of walking the Camino de Santiago, driving Route 66 or riding the Trans-Siberian Railway? It may sound clichéd, but sometimes it really is all about the journey, rather than the destination and what better way to see the world than by moving through it.If setting out on an adventure is on your bucket list, but you don't know where to start, Unforgettable Journeys will have you lacing up your hiking boots, hitting the road or taking to the high seas. Encompassing everywhere from Antarctica to Zambia, over 200 hikes, drives, cycling trails, train routes and boat trips are brought to life with inspiring narrative, sumptuous photography and illustrative maps. We even suggest alternative routes, so it's easy to plan your next trip. Make your next trip magical as you explore: - Over 200 journeys illustrated with inspiring photography and maps - Experiential text to transport the reader there; descriptive, narrative and full of story - Practical information (duration, difficulty, start and end point, options to take an organized tour - if available - or go it alone).- Sustainable and slow travel options have been covered where possible- Feature boxes give the routes context- Alternative ways to make the same journey and similar trips are pulled out Organized by type of trip - cruises, road trips, train rides, and journeys by two feet and two wheels, each chapter follows the same geographical order with chapter maps showing every country covered. Each section covers a different way to travel the world and is broken down by continent. Whether you want to explore the Atlas Mountains or Torres del Paine on foot; drive the Pan American Highway or cross the Australian Outback; cycle from the top to the bottom of Africa or enjoy a leisurely ride across The Netherlands' bulb fields; go interrailing around Europe or board the Orient Express; island hop in Greece or the Philippines: these journeys will stay with you forever!

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Develop your drawing skills and rediscover the world around you with this innovative and beautifully illustrated book. In Drawing for the Artist, acclaimed artist and teacher Sarah Simblet teaches you how to draw by combining practical lessons with examples of both her own work and some of the world's greatest drawings. She introduces all the key drawing materials, then shows you how to master the basic elements of drawing in a series of step-by-step drawing classes, covering topics ranging from simple mark-making to establishing form, creating tone, and conveying perspective. You will learn how to explore a wide variety of subjects, from still life, plants, and animals to portraits, the human body, landscapes, and buildings, all introduced with outstanding drawings by famous artists. The bestselling author of Anatomy for the Artist and Botany for the Artist, Sarah demonstrates how she works - from quick pencil sketches to pen and ink studies - with expertise and plenty of encouraging tips, and complements them with plentiful examples from her own sketchbooks. Drawing for the Artist is for anyone who wants to draw, whether you are a complete beginner or would like to refresh your existing skills. Whatever your ability, it will inspire you to reach for a pencil and paper and start drawing.

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Bring history to life with more than 40 colourful maps in this children's atlas full of fascinating nuggets of information about our past.This beautiful history atlas helps children learn about world history all the way from the first people leaving Africa right up to how the world looks now, with a modern world map. Journey around the world as you learn its history, with maps showing everything from the awe-inspiring Great Wall of China to the when and how of the US Civil War. Children are shown how to read a map and how to use a key, compass, and scale. Each map is bursting with information, such as how big the Roman Empire was, how explorers made incredible journeys around the world, and when humans first travelled into space. Children's Illustrated History Atlas is an essential addition to every child's library.Young history buffs will love this time-travelling adventure.

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This picture word book of 1000 first words will broaden young children's vocabulary and strengthen their early reading and writing skills. Every picture-packed page is full of things children will love to look at, with word labels for each image, plus some simple text that encourages children to explore the book. Topics include Me and My Body, My Family and Friends, Animals in the Wild, All Sorts of Places, Describing People, Colours, Shapes, and Numbers, and Time, Seasons, and Weather. There are also five fun "story style" pages that tell a short narrative and inspire storytelling skills: for example, All in Day is about a young child's typical day, and Favourite Pets looks at a variety of pets, then follows the story of a playful dog looking for his bouncy ball.1000 Useful Words clearly labels each picture, which encourages picture-and-word association and helps early reading, and each topic features questions that ask children to find things on the page or that stimulate thinking, talking, and early creative writing skills. The words have been chosen with the help of a leading educational consultant, Penny Coltman, and include lots of useful nouns, plus some interesting adjectives, and common verbs. Young children will be amazed and delighted by all the fascinating real-world photos, things to spot, imaginative pictures to talk about, and incredibly useful words! This fun and educational picture word book is a must-have first reference title for parents who are keen to develop their child's language and literacy skills.

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'Maryse Condé is an extraordinary storyteller who brings the history of an African kingdom alive as vividly as if it existed today. . . This is a great novel: unputdownable and unforgettable' Bernardine EvaristoWinner of the Alternative Nobel Prize for Literature 2018 The bestselling epic novel of family, treachery, rivalry, religious fervour and the turbulent fate of a royal African dynasty It is 1797 and the African kingdom of Segu, born of blood and violence, is at the height of its power. Yet Dousika Traore, the king's most trusted advisor, feels nothing but dread. Change is coming. From the East, a new religion, Islam. From the West, the slave trade. These forces will tear his country, his village and the lives of his beloved sons apart, in Maryse Condé's glittering epic.'Rich and colorful and glorious. It sprawls over continents and centuries to find its way into the reader's heart' - Maya Angelou'A stunning reaffirmation of Africa and its peoples... It's a starburst' - John A. Williams

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How do you raise children to think creatively for themselves and thrive?Edward de Bono, one of the world leading authorities on creative thinking, shows how parents can raise happy, confident and self-assured children through his simple tips, tricks and exercises that you can do with your child. This book will help your child: - Use positive reinforcement effectively - Unleash their creativity - Make the best life choices - Plan well for the future Confidence is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give their child and through this book you will learn how to give them the best start in life.2020 marked the 50th anniversary of Lateral Thinking (1970) and the 35th anniversary of Six Thinking Hats (1985).

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A fresh and surprising perspective on Mary, the Mother of God, that highlights her central importance in the Christian faith.

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Lift the flaps and join in the noisy fun with Dear Zoo Noisy Book!Rod Campbell's classic lift-the-flap book Dear Zoo has been a firm favourite with toddlers and parents alike ever since it was first published in 1982. With Dear Zoo Noisy Book little ones can play along with eight interactive sound buttons.An interactive edition of the preschool classic, young children will love lifting the flaps to discover the animals the zoo has sent, and then pressing the sound buttons to bring the story to noisy life: hear the lion roar and the puppy bark!With bright, bold artwork, a catchy refrain and eight animal noises, the Dear Zoo Noisy Book is sure to keep toddlers entertained for hours – perfect for joining in!

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Internationally-acclaimed graphic-literary talent Alison Bechdel offers acerbically funny insight into the lesbian culture of 1980s America in this comic strip collection.Bechdel's brilliantly imagined counter-cultural band of friends - academics, social workers, booksellers - fall in and out of love, negotiate relationships, raise children, switch careers and cope with aging parents. The Essential Dykes To Watch Out For fuses high and low culture - from foreign domestic policy to domestic routine, postmodern theory to hot sex - in a serial graphic narrative 'suitable for all humanist persuasions'.Alison Bechdel has been chronicling the lives of a small universe of cartoon characters in her strip Dykes To Watch Out For, which has been syndicated in fifty alternative newspapers in the USA and has been published in eleven volumes. For this first time, this collection gathers the best of those volumes.'So much more than a comic strip... No one comes close to Alison Bechdel' Times

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Agamemnon *Libation Bearers *EumenidesAeschylus' Oresteia is the only trilogy to survive from Greek tragedy, and the religious and moral ideas it enacts afterwards influenced a great dramatic genre, as well as giving its three plays their lasting significance. In this family history, Fate and the gods decree that each generation will repeat the crimes and endure the suffering of their forebears. When Agamemnon is murdered by his wife, Clytemnestra, their son Orestes must avenge his father's death. Only Orestes' appeal tothe goddess Athena saves him from his mother's Furies, breaking the bloody chain; together gods and humans inaugurate a way of just conduct that will ensure stable families and a strong community. The Oresteia is majestic as theatre and as literature, and this new translation seeks to preserve both these qualities. The introduction and notes emphasize the interconnection of scenes, ideas, and language that distinguishes this unique work. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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'Fitzgerald has solved virtually every problem that has plagued translators of Homer.' Atlantic Monthly The Iliad is the story of a few days' fighting in the tenth year of the legendary war between the Greeks and the Trojans, which broke out when Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, abducted the fabulously beautiful Helen, wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. After a quarrel between the Greek commander, Agamemnon, and the greatest of the Greek warriors, Achilles, the gods become more closely involved in the action. Their intervention leads to the tragic death of Hector, the Trojan leader, andto the final defeat of the Trojans. But the Iliad is much more than a series of battle scenes. It is a work of extraordinary pathos and profundity that concerns itself with issues as fundamental as the meaning of life and death. Even the heroic ethic itself - with its emphasis on pride, honour, prowess in battle, and submission to the inexorable will of the gods - is not left unquestioned. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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One little guinea-pig and a whole lot of mischief! From the author of Paddington Bear, Michael Bond's loveable guinea-pig has been charming readers for over 50 years. Olga da Polga has left the pet shop to start a new life with her owners. Her home is now a large and airy hutch and it's not long before she meets Noel the cat, Fangio the hedgehog, and Graham the tortoise. Her garden companions soon discover that Olga loves an audience and from the moment she arrives she tells them stories about her wild and exciting adventures. Although they are not always sure whether to believe everything Olga says, one thing is certain-since Olga moved in, life is never dull! Whether she's Olga the explorer, Olga the prizewinner, or Olga the storyteller, she is always Olga da Polga!

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Loved by millions of children around the world Pippi Longstocking is one of the most popular children's characters of all time. This story sees Pippi, Tommy and Annika go on their greatest adventure yet - to Koratuttutt Island, where Pippi's father is king.This new edition contains brand new black and white artwork by award-winning illustrator Mini Grey.

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Join the Songbirds characters in these exciting phonics activities, ideal for children who are taking their first steps in reading.Featuring characters from Julia Donaldson's Songbirds stories, this Read with Oxford Stage 1 activity book includes a variety of activities and stickers to provide a fun way to build phonics knowledge and reading confidence. Help Zak the dog find the missing letters, play a balloon game with Top Cat and make up rhymes with Bob Bug.Former Children's Laureate and author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson, has captivated children all over the world with her lively and engaging stories. Songbirds is a phonics programme carefully created by Julia to support children who are learning to read and is used in schools to inspire a love of reading. There are four Songbirds phonics activity books for you to enjoy.Featuring much-loved characters, great authors, engaging storylines and fun activities, Read with Oxford offers an exciting range of carefully levelled reading books to build your child's reading confidence. Find practical advice, free eBooks and fun activities to help your child progress on oxfordowl.co.uk. Let's get them flying!

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The New York Times bestselling guide to thinking like literature's greatest detective. "Steven Pinker meets Sir Arthur Conan Doyle" (Boston Globe), by the author of The Confidence Game. No fictional character is more renowned for his powers of thought and observation than Sherlock Holmes. But is his extraordinary intellect merely a gift of fiction, or can we learn to cultivate these abilities ourselves, to improve our lives at work and at home? We can, says psychologist and journalist Maria Konnikova, and in Mastermind she shows us how. Beginning with the "brain attic"-Holmes's metaphor for how we store information and organize knowledge-Konnikova unpacks the mental strategies that lead to clearer thinking and deeper insights. Drawing on twenty-first-century neuroscience and psychology, Mastermind explores Holmes's unique methods of ever-present mindfulness, astute observation, and logical deduction. In doing so, it shows how each of us, with some self-awareness and a little practice, can employ these same methods to sharpen our perceptions, solve difficult problems, and enhance our creative powers. For Holmes aficionados and casual readers alike, Konnikova reveals how the world's most keen-eyed detective can serve as an unparalleled guide to upgrading the mind.

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Milton's celebrated epic poem, now in a gorgeous new clothbound edition designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith. These delectable and collectable editions are bound in high-quality, tactile cloth with foil stamped into the design.In Paradise Lost Milton produced a poem of epic scale, conjuring up a vast, awe-inspiring cosmos and ranging across huge tracts of space and time. And yet, in putting a charismatic Satan and naked Adam and Eve at the centre of this story, he also created an intensely human tragedy on the Fall of Man. Written when Milton was in his fifties - blind, bitterly disappointed by the Restoration and briefly in danger of execution - Paradise Lost's apparent ambivalence towards authority has led to intense debate about whether it manages to 'justify the ways of God to men', or exposes the cruelty of Christianity.John Milton (1608-1674) spent his early years in scholarly pursuit. In 1649 he took up the cause for the new Commonwealth, defending the English revolution both in English and Latin - and sacrificing his eyesight in the process. He risked his life by publishing The Ready and Easy Way to Establish a Free Commonwealth on the eve of the Restoration (1660). His great poems were published after this political defeat. John Leonard is a Professor of English at the University of Western Ontario.

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Yasha the magician - sword swallower, fire eater, acrobat and master of escape - is famed for his extraordinary Houdini-like skills. Half Jewish, half Gentile, a free thinker who slips easily between worlds, Yasha has an observant wife, a loyal assistant who travels with him and a woman in every town. Now, though, his exploits are catching up with him, and he is tempted to make one final escape - from his marriage, his homeland and the last tendrils of his father's religion. Set in Warsaw and the shtetls of the 1870s, Isaac Bashevis Singer's second novel is a haunting psychological portrait of a man's flight from love.Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature

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Happy City is the story of how the solutions to this century's problems lie in unlocking the secrets to great city livingThis is going to be the century of the city. But what actually makes a good city? Why are some cities a joy to live in?As Charles Montgomery reveals, it's not how much money your neighbours earn, or how pleasant the climate is that makes the most difference. Journeying to dozens of cities - from Atlanta to Bogotá to Vancouver - he talks to the new champions of the happy city to explore the urban innovations already transforming people's lives. He meets the visionary Colombian mayor who turned some of the world's most dangerous roads into an urban cycling haven; the Danish architect who brought the lessons of medieval Tuscan towns to modern-day Copenhagen; and the New York City transport commissioner who turned the gridlock of Times Square into a place to lounge in the sun.Drawing on the lessons from their stories, from brain science, and from the fascinating realm of urban experimentation, Happy City offers solutions we can all use to improve our livesandshows that simple changes can make all the difference.'Do we live in neighbourhoods that make us happy? Montgomery encourages us to ask without embarrassment, and to think intelligently about the answer' The New York Times Book Review'Excellent . . . Montgomery believes in the importance of smart town planning and Happy City is a compendium of its major ideas' Will Dean, IndependentCharles Montgomery is a journalist and urban experimentalist from Vancouver, Canada. His writings on urban planning, psychology, culture, and history have appeared in magazines and journals on three continents. He is the author of one previous book, and was an original member of the BMW Guggenheim Lab.

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Discover the real Michael McIntyre through his remarkable and hilarious journey to comedy stardom in his first official autobiography'This book showed me the REAL Michael McIntyre' 5***** READER REVIEW'It made me laugh, cry, laugh, laugh and laugh some more' 5***** READER REVIEW'Simply is a must read . . . His story is fascinating' 5***** READER REVIEW'To anyone who loves Michael McIntyre - you will not be disappointed!' 5***** READER REVIEWTHE NO. 1 BESTSELLERMichael McIntyre is Britain's biggest comedy star. But how did he get there? Michael reveals all in his remarkably honest and hilarious autobiography, Life and Laughing.From his showbiz roots to his appalling attempts to attract the opposite sex, his fish-out-of-water move from public to state school, and his astonishing journey from selling just one ticket at the Edinburgh Festival to selling half a million tickets on tour.Filled with riveting anecdotes and poignant lessons, Life and Laughing is the unmissable story of Britain's biggest comedian's rise to stardom.Above all, it's very, very funny.

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'There is no Light without Darknesse and no Substance without Shaddowe'So proclaims Nicholas Dyer, assistant to Sir Christopher Wren and the man with a commission to build seven London churches to stand as beacons of the enlightenment. But Dyer plans to conceal a dark secret at the heart of each church - to create a forbidding architecture that will survive for eternity. Two hundred and fifty years later, London detective Nicholas Hawksmoor is investigating a series of gruesome murders on the sites of certain eighteenth-century churches - crimes that make no sense to the modern mind . . . 'Chillingly brilliant . . . sinister and stunningly well executed' Independent on SundayPeter Ackroyd was born in London in 1949. A novelist, biographer and historian, he has been the literary editor of The Spectator and chief book reviewer for the The Times, as well as writing several highly acclaimed books including a biography of Dickens and London: The Biography. He lives in London.

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A key work in the German 'Sturm und Drang' movement, Johann Goethe's autobiographical epistolary novel The Sorrows of Young Werther is a defining moment in early Romanticism, which has influenced writers from Mary Shelley to Thomas Mann. This Penguin Classics edition is translated from with an introduction by Michael Hulse.Visiting an idyllic German village, Werther, a sensitive young man, meets and falls in love with sweet-natured Charlotte. Although he realises that she is to marry Albert, he is unable to subdue his passion and his infatuation torments him to the point of despair. The first great 'confessional' novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther draws both on Goethe's own unrequited love for Charlotte Buff and on the death of his friend Karl Wilhelm Jerusalem. The book was an immediate success, and a cult rapidly grew up around it, resulting in numerous imitations as well as violent criticism and suppression on the grounds of its apparent support of suicide. Goethe's sensitive exploration of the mind of an artist at odds with society and ill-equipped to cope with life is now considered the first great tragic novel of European literature.This edition includes notes and an introduction by Michael Hulse, who explores the origins of the novel in the author's life and examines its impact on European culture.Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Although he directed the German State Theatre, dabbled in the occult and worked on scientific theories in evolutionary botany, Goethe is best remembered for his great works The Sorrows of Young Werther and Faust, and his part in the 18th century 'Sturm and Drang' movement.If you enjoyed The Sorrows of Young Werther, you might like Stendhal's Love, also published in Penguin Classics.

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After the death of old Dr Grantly, a bitter struggle begins over who will succeed him as Bishop of Barchester. And when the decision is finally made to appoint the evangelical Dr Proudie, rather than the son of the old bishop, Archdeacon Grantly, resentment and suspicion threaten to cause deep divisions within the diocese. Trollope's masterly depiction of the plotting and back-stabbing that ensues lies at the heart of one of the most vivid and comic of his Barsetshire novels, peopled by such very different figures as the saintly Warden of Hiram's Hospital, Septimus Harding, the ineffectual but well-meaning new bishop and his terrifying wife, and the oily chaplain Mr Slope who has designs on Mr Harding's daughter.

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Living in a revolutionary age, Coleridge's poetry was written in a spirit of moral and emotional inquiry into the absolutes of the human condition. He is best known for his visionary poetry ('Kubla Khan') and his ballads ('The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'), but he used and transformed a variety of verse forms, from the sonnet to the conversation poem, on subjects as diverse as nature, love, and politics. This selection calls attention to the range of Coleridge's work, its strong autobiographical content,and its artistic development throughout his career. The old chronological form has been abandoned and the poems are organised according to genre, with each section displaying its own individual development in craft and theme.

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*Shortlisted for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay*Selected as a Book of the Year 2016 by the Financial Times, Guardian, New Statesman, Observer, The Millions and Emerald Street'Flâneuse [flanne-euhze], noun, from the French. Feminine form of flâneur [flanne-euhr], an idler, a dawdling observer, usually found in cities. That is an imaginary definition.'If the word flâneur conjures up visions of Baudelaire, boulevards and bohemia – then what exactly is a flâneuse? In this gloriously provocative and celebratory book, Lauren Elkin defines her as ‘a determined resourceful woman keenly attuned to the creative potential of the city, and the liberating possibilities of a good walk’. Part cultural meander, part memoir, Flâneuse traces the relationship between the city and creativity through a journey that begins in New York and moves us to Paris, via Venice, Tokyo and London, exploring along the way the paths taken by the flâneuses who have lived and walked in those cities.From nineteenth-century novelist George Sand to artist Sophie Calle, from war correspondent Martha Gellhorn to film-maker Agnes Varda, Flâneuse considers what is at stake when a certain kind of light-footed woman encounters the city and changes her life, one step at a time.

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SOON TO BE A LIMITED SERIES DIRECTED BY DANNY BOYLEForeword by Chrissie HyndeWithout the Sex Pistols there would be no punk rock, and without Steve Jones there would be no Sex Pistols.It was Steve who formed Kutie Jones and his Sex Pistols, the band that eventually went on to become the Sex Pistols, with his schoolmate Paul Cook and who was its original leader. As the world celebrates the 40th anniversary of Punk - the influence and cultural significance of which is felt in music, fashion and the visual arts to this day - Steve tells his story for the very first time. Rising from the streets of Hammersmith, Steve Jones was once a lonely, neglected boy living off his wits and petty thievery. Given purpose by the glam art rock of David Bowie and Roxy Music, he became one of the first generation of punks taken under the wings of Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood. For the very first time Steve describes the neglect and abuse he suffered at the hands of his stepfather, and how his interest in music and fashion saved him from a potential life of crime.From the Kings Road of the early seventies, through the years of the Sex Pistols, Punk Rock and the recording of Never Mind the Bollocks (ranked number 41 in Rolling Stone magazine's Best Albums of All Time), to his self-imposed exile in New York and Los Angeles where he battled with alcohol, heroin and sex addiction - caught in a cycle of rehab and relapse - Lonely Boy, written with music journalist and author Ben Thompson, is the story of an unlikely guitar hero who, with the Sex Pistols, changed history.

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The enchanting story of a very remarkable dog from the author of the bestselling Captain Corelli's Mandolin.‘In early 1998 I went to Perth in Western Australia in order to attend the literature festival, and part of the arrangement was that I should go to Karratha to do their first ever literary dinner. Karratha is a mining town a long way further north. The landscape is extraordinary, being composed of vast heaps of dark red earth and rock poking out of the never-ending bush. I imagine that Mars must have a similar feel to it. I went exploring and discovered the bronze statue to Red Dog outside the town of Dampier. I felt straight away that I had to find out more about this splendid dog. A few months later I returned to Western Australia and spent two glorious weeks driving around collecting Red Dog stories and visiting the places that he knew, writing up the text as I went along. I hope my cat never finds out that I have written a story to celebrate the life of a dog.’ Louis de Bernières.‘If you love Australia it will have you aching for the scent of gums and sight of the Southern Cross, while if you love dogs it is sure to make you highly indulgent towards the one you love’ Observer

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Now an animated series from Paramount + & Nickelodeon! The sixth Big Nate book in the New York Times bestselling series by Lincoln Peirce! Perfect for fans of the hilarious Diary of Wimpy Kid series. A laugh-out-loud must-read illustrated novel starring the one and only cartooning genius, king of detention, and Cheez Doodle connoisseur, Nate Wright. Nate's not having the best of luck . . . in fact; he's not having ANY luck. But with a little boost thanks to Chad's lucky foot, suddenly good luck is everywhere Nate turns! Nate's in the zone! But how long will it last? Includes a sneak peek to the seventh Big Nate novel! "Big Nate is funny, big time."--Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

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In her most ambitious novel to date, New York Times bestselling author Joyce Maynard returns to the themes that are the hallmarks of her most acclaimed work in a mesmerizing story of a family—from the hopeful early days of young marriage to parenthood, divorce, and the costly aftermath that ripples through all their livesEleanor and Cam meet at a crafts fair in Vermont in the early 1970s. She’s an artist and writer, he makes wooden bowls. Within four years they are parents to three children, two daughters and a red-headed son who fills his pockets with rocks, plays the violin and talks to God. To Eleanor, their New Hampshire farm provides everything she always wanted—summer nights watching Cam’s softball games, snow days by the fire and the annual tradition of making paper boats and cork people to launch in the brook every spring. If Eleanor and Cam don’t make love as often as they used to, they have something that matters more. Their family. Then comes a terrible accident, caused by Cam’s negligence. Unable to forgive him, Eleanor is consumed by bitterness, losing herself in her life as a mother, while Cam finds solace with a new young partner.  Over the decades that follow, the five members of this fractured family make surprising discoveries and decisions that occasionally bring them together, and often tear them apart. Tracing the course of their lives—through the gender transition of one child and another’s choice to completely break with her mother—Joyce Maynard captures a family forced to confront essential, painful truths of its past, and find redemption in its darkest hours.A story of holding on and learning to let go, Count the Ways is an achingly beautiful, poignant, and deeply compassionate novel of home, parenthood, love, and forgiveness.

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During his two terms as the fortieth president of the United States, Ronald Reagan kept a daily diary in which he recorded, by hand, his innermost thoughts and observations on the extraordinary, the historic, and the routine day-to-day occurrences of his presidency. Brought together in one volume and edited by historian Douglas Brinkley, The Reagan Diaries provides a striking insight into one of this nation's most important presidencies and sheds new light on the character of a true American leader.

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Meet insects from around the world with this fun search and find fact book from National Geographic Kids. Find it! Search the busy illustrated scenes to find more than 250 insects and other minibeasts. From British Gardens to the Amazon Rainforest, Australian Wetlands to the dry deserts they are sure to keep young readers entertained. Explore it! Discover amazing facts all about the creatures spotted. Did you know that a bee’s wings can beat over 200 times in a second? That there may be as many as 2.5 million species of insect in the rainforest? Or that forest bugs change colour with the seasons? With colourful photos and lots of fun activities that kids will love it’s the perfect book for kids and grown-ups to enjoy together!

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