«Playwright and raconteur Oscar Wilde embarks on another adventure as he sets sail for America in the 1880s on a roller coaster of a lecture tour. But the adventure doesn't truly begin until Oscar boards an ocean liner headed back across the Atlantic and joins a motley crew led by French impresario Edmond La Grange. As Oscar becomes entangled with the La Grange acting dynasty, he suspects that all is not as it seems. What begins with a curious death at sea soon escalates to a series of increasingly macabre tragedies once the troupe arrives in Paris to perform «Hamlet.» A strange air of indifference surrounds these seemingly random events, inciting Oscar to dig deeper, aided by his friends Robert Sherard and the divine Sarah Bernhardt. What he discovers is a horrifying secret — one that may bring him closer to his own last chapter than anyone could have imagined. As intelligent as it is beguiling, this third installment in the richly historical mystery series is sure to captivate and entertain.»

In this sweeping history of vodka scion Pyotr Smirnov and his family, distinguished journalist Linda Himelstein plumbs a great riddle of Russian history through the story of a humble serf who rose to create one of the most celebrated business empires the world has ever known. At the center of this vivid narrative, Pyotr Smirnov comes to life as a hero of wonderful complexity — a man of intense ambition and uncanny business sense, a patriarch of a family that would help define Russian society and suffer from the Revolution's aftermath, and a loyalist to a nation that would one day honor him as a treasure of the state. Born in a small village in 1831, Smirnov relied on vodka — a commodity that in many ways defines Russia — to turn a life of scarcity and anonymity into one of immense wealth and international recognition. Starting from the backrooms and side streets of 19th century Moscow, Smirnov exploited a golden age of emancipation and brilliant grassroots marketing strategies to popularize his products and ensconce his brand within the thirsts and imaginations of drinkers around the world. His vodka would be gulped in the taverns of Russia and Europe, praised with accolades at World Fairs, and become a staple on the tables of Tsars. His improbable ascent — set against a sobriety crusade supported by Chekhov and Tolstoy, mounting political uprisings and labor strikes, the eventual monopolization of the vodka trade by the state — would crumble amidst the chaos of the Bolshevik revolution. Only a set of bizarre coincidences — including an incredible prison escape by one of Smirnov's sons in 1919 — would prevent Smirnov's legacy from fading into oblivion. Set against a backdrop of political and ideological currents that would determine the course of global history — from the fall of the Tsars to the rise of Communism, from vodka's popularization by none other than James Bond to Smirnoff's emergence as a multi-billion dollar brand — Smirnov's story of triumph and tragedy is a captivating historical touchstone. The King of Vodka is much more than a biography of an extraordinary man. It is a work of narrative history on an epic scale.

A descendant of one of Hawaii's largest landowners, Matthew King finds his luck has changed. His two daughters — Scottie, a feisty ten-year-old, and Alex, a teenage recovering drug addict — are out of control; his thrill-seeking, high-maintenance wife, Joanie, lies in a coma after a boat-racing accident and will soon be taken off life support. Suddenly the King family must come to terms with this tragedy — and with the shameful sense of freedom that comes with it. As Matt gathers Joanie's friends and family to say their final goodbyes, a difficult situation is made worse by the discovery that one person hasn't been told — the man with whom Joanie has been having an affair. Forced to examine what he owes not only to the living but also to the dead, Matt takes to the road with his daughters to find his wife's lover on a memorable journey of painful revelations and unforeseen humor.

This is a colouring book with 200 spectacular stickers! Faces are everywhere in Yukiko Kido's universe. They're on shoes, vegetables, cups, chairs, balls, you name it! And now kids can color in this quirky-faced world.

No office can function without a little humor and craziness. Adams turns mundane office issues into excruciatingly funny office moments. In Freedom's Just Another Word for People Finding Out You're Useless, fans get a hilarious collection of great Dilbert strips that are anything but useless. From office politics and reams of red tape, to mayhem due to new technologies and, of course, the crazy cast of co-workers, Dilbert gets it done.

'The fruit of his labours', Martin Manser's, SCAPEGOATS, SHAMBLES AND SHIBBOLETHS is a delightful book for all who adore the English language. 'In the twinkling of an eye' we learn that many of our most familiar phrases are taken straight from the King James Version of the Bible. Far from being 'holier than thou', it seems we quote from the Bible without even realising! Martin Manser explains in detail what it is to be 'the apple of someone's eye'! 'No modern physiology book would put it like this, but in the past the pupil of the eye was referred to as "the apple" After all, it was shaped like one. In addition, because it was recognised to be the most important part of the eye it was a symbol for all things precious. The most valuable part of a highly valued organ of the body. Dotted around the Bible the phrase therefore represents anything that is of great worth — whether it is the law of God in Proverbs 7 v 2, the people of Israel found and nurtured in the desert or as an individual on the receiving end of divine care.' A quirky present, SCAPEGOATS SHAMBLES AND SHIBBOLETHS will amuse and entertain as well as shed a thought-provoking light on the background to our rich and varied language.

You can see it in the way the snowman’s eyes sparkle. Hear it in the voices of carolers echoing in the streets, and in the sounds of children trimming the tree. You can feel it in the warm fire dancing in the hearth. Meanwhile, the mother hen hushes her chicks, the pigs’ little tails curl in excitement, and the sheep nod knowingly as all wait in eager anticipation for a joyous Christmas surprise. With lush illustrations as comforting as a Yule-time fire, this tender Christmas lullaby about cherished traditions and welcome surprises is sure to become an annual favorite.

'The English Civil War' is one of the most hotly contested areas of English History and John Miller is one of the experts on the period. Amid dramatic accounts of the key battles and confrontations, Miller explores what triggered the initial conflict between crown and parliament and how this was played out in England, Scotland and Ireland in the lead-up to war. As the war developed, personalities and innovations on the battlefield became increasingly important, culminating in the rise of Oliver Cromwell and the radical New Model Army. The wars changed the political, social, religious and intellectual landscape of the country for ever. Using a lifetime's knowledge and study on the period, John Miller brings this extraordinary turning point in British history to life.

The Dalai Lama visited New York in 2003 and gave a series of lectures, culminating in a public talk in Central Park, which drew over a quarter of a million people. Based on these lectures, this new volume will provide practical instruction on how we can use meditation to realise the mind's phenomenal potential. Leading the reader through the diverse schools of Buddhist philosophy, this book also teaches us how to let go of our own strong ideas of self and how to find a little more happiness in life, for ourselves and for others. For all the millions of fans of the Dalai Lama's writings, and for anyone yet to be introduced to his thinking, Training the Mind is the perfect book to learn how to dedicate our positive activities to the benefit of all in order to build a better world.

From a celebrated team comes a fascinating look at why we don't have super powers (alas) — and why size matters, for creatures big and small. Did you ever wonder why there are no high-flying, wall-climbing, tall-building-leaping superheroes in real life? Find out what keeps big animals (like us) from engaging in astonishing feats of strength and agility, and yet why being tiny and all-powerful might have a downside. What if you could lift fifty times your weight (hello, ant), but getting wet could kill you? Or you could soar like a bird, but a cold breeze would do you in? Whether big or small, our size defines more about us than we could ever imagine. Join the duo that brought us POOP, EXTREME ANIMALS, and WHAT'S EATING YOU? for a fun and intriguing exploration of what it means to be just the right size.

If you wanted a pet, if you really really wanted just the right pet, what would it be? A gecko, a goose, or a humpback whale? A Minnesota minnow or a South Dakota snail? Come to Ralph's World and join Ralph on a zany adventure across land and water in happy celebration of animal friends of all kinds. Kids' rock star Ralph Covert's playful lyrics to the popular song Me and My Animal Friends are coupled with Laurie Keller's whimsical illustrations. Make sure to look for Ralph on every page: he's in animal disguise!

Father Christmas is starting his rounds on Christmas Eve, but his little helper has forgotten to bring the gifts and sweets! Can she collect them all in time? Or will some children have no presents this year? This traditional story gives children a glimpse into the busy lives of Father Christmas and his helpers on Christmas Eve, showing the work of the angels up in the heavens and how all the creatures on Earth come to share in the joy of Christmas. Else Wenz-Vietor brings the magic of Christmas alive once more with her beautiful illustrations.

Lively, warm and friendly, this illustrated collection — plus a CD with Peter Yarrow, his daughter Bethany and cellist Rufus Cappadocia — will bring families together to read and to sing. Peter makes every tune sound fresh and irresistible and Terry Widener's appealing pictures capture the spirit of each song, from the wild waves and rocking boat of Sloop John B to happy dancers ready to Skip to My Lou. Included in the book and CD are: The Golden Vanity, Skip to My Lou, Cockles and Mussels, The Fox, Springfield Mountain, The Erie Canal, Rock-a My Soul, I've Been Workin' on the Railroad and Sloop John B.

The 27 poster images here range from a sunset over Inverness to the sparkling cliffs of Cornwall, from the ancient hills and castles of Wales to the stately dome of St. Paul's in London, with many a ruined abbey and railway viaduct between. In the 1920s, the major railways in Great Britain began employing a number of artists to produce a series of uncommonly beautiful posters promoting rail travel. Chief among these artists was Norman Wilkinson, and this postcard book offers vivid reproductions of some of his finest lithographed posters, from the collection of Britain's National Railway Museum. The cards measure 6 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches, and require first-class (letter) postage.

These classic nursery rhymes come to life with bright, animated illustrations and moving parts. Children will enjoy playing with the moving parts while following the actions of the much-loved nursery rhyme.

A few simple tricks will carry you far in the social world, and the menagerie in this book will help you to master them, from the proper way to converse (don't open your mouth just to hear yourself roar) to good manners while bathing (don't hog the mud bath!).

The New Earth From Above: 365 Days is now fully revised and updated. Reaching across the continents, from the icebergs of Antarctica to the cotton fields of India, the breathtaking, full-color photographs are accompanied by informative new text that describes the environmental concerns related to each location. Each chapter of the book opens with an insightful introduction by a different noted author who addresses a subject critical to the future of our planet: agriculture, biodiversity, sustainable development, energy, forests, water, and global warming. This edition includes 60 new and unpublished photos taken by Arthus-Bertrand over the past few years. The text throughout the book is revised to reflect changes in the world since the last publication, and includes three new authors: the heads of WWF France and the Observatory of Renewable Resources, and the president of Alter Eco, a fair trade firm. Yann Arthus-Bertrand's powerful aerial photographs reveal the incidental beauty of our planet and are reminders of our capacity to save or destroy it.

Read about... AND SEE... Vampires, Werewolves, Yeti's, Medusa, Griffins and a Komodo Dragon in this amazing Pop up book featuring the most ghastly, grisly and scary creatures ever!

«If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country.» E. M. Forster Through seven previous novels, Reggie Nadelson has created one of the more memorable characters in detective fiction: Artie Cohen, New York police detective and first-generation American with complex ties to his Russian past, especially his close friendship with the enigmatic and flamboyant New York/London club owner T olya Sverdloff. Now, in «Londongrad» — by far Nadelson's most ambitious novel to date — Artie is faced with a murder that strikes at him personally and will ultimately place his best friend's life in his hands as it challenges his own loyalty. In a playground in Brooklyn, Artie is led to a dead girl tied up in duct tape on a children's swing. He soon realizes the killer murdered the wrong girl — the intended victim was Valentina S verdloff, Tolya's daughter, long adored by Artie. Artie flies to London to tell Tolya and finds himself enmeshed on his friend's behalf in a maelstrom of Russian money and crime. Like Berlin at the end of World War II, somebody tells Artie, Londongrad, as it's known, has become an offshore island for the new Russian underworld. Over his head, Artie is drawn further in, to Moscow, where, balancing between the old KGB and the new FSB, between the dazzle and grimness of Russia today, he uncovers a painful truth about his past that puts Tolya's life in the balance.»

Works of art you must know; Works of Art you should know — and Works of Art you really impress people if you know! 999 beautiful illustrations.