The eponymous princesses are both spinsters, but there any similarity ends. Zizi, thwarted in love, takes her lot meekly until she comes face to face with her erstwhile lover’s perfidy, and her sense of justice and familial devotion rise to claim a bittersweet revenge. Mimi meanwhile, whose own romantic failures have left her bitter and resentful, takes her revenge groundlessly, leading all around her to a tragic end. This tale portraying the two diametrically opposed sides of the nature of the Russian aristocracy reveals this frequently overlooked author to be a significant force in 19th-century literature.

This stunning book, based on KGB archives that have never come to light before, provides the most complete account of Soviet espionage in America ever written. In 1993, former KGB officer Alexander Vassiliev was permitted unique access to Stalin-era records of Soviet intelligence operations against the United States. Years later, living in Britain, Vassiliev retrieved his extensive notebooks of transcribed documents from Moscow. With these notebooks John Earl Haynes and Harvey Klehr have meticulously constructed a new, sometimes shocking, historical account. Along with general insights into espionage tactics and the motives of Americans who spied for Stalin, Spies resolves specific, long-seething controversies. The book confirms, among many other things, that Alger Hiss cooperated with Soviet intelligence over a long period of years, that journalist I. F. Stone worked on behalf of the KGB in the 1930s, and that Robert Oppenheimer was never recruited by Soviet intelligence. Spies also uncovers numerous American spies who were never even under suspicion and satisfyingly identifies the last unaccounted for American nuclear spies. Vassiliev tells the story of the notebooks and his own extraordinary life in a gripping introduction to the volume.

Starting by introducing the reader to drawing with stencils, and ending by helping the reader make a stencil of his or her own hand, 100 Shapes is the ultimate drawing book that readers of any level of artistic ability will enjoy. With ten pages of shapes of absolute diversity and remarkable clarity and complexity, the 100 shapes of 100 Shapes will give readers hours of enjoyment.

«Harper Voyager. this paperback edition 2008. «The Illustrated Man» is a 1951 book of eighteen science fiction short stories by Ray Bradbury that explores the nature of mankind. A recurring theme throughout the eighteen stories is the conflict of the cold mechanics of technology and the psychology of people. It was nominated for the International Fantasy Award in 1952, and today is considered a seminal work of science fiction.»

«For the first time in more than 30 years comes a comprehensive, fully illustrated encyclopedia containing all the essential details and trivia about the Dark Knight. Illustrated and bound in durable hardcover. The ultimate guide to the man behind the mask... and the mythology behind the man. «Criminals are a superstitious, cowardly lot. So my disguise must be able to strike terror into their hearts. I must be a creature of the night, black, terrible... I shall become a bat!» So declared millionaire industrialist Bruce Wayne, orphaned as a boy by a murderous thug and driven as a man to battle the scourge of crime by becoming Batman. Batman swooped into popular culture in 1939-and for nearly seventy years has thrilled audiences in countless comics, live-action and animated television programs, and seven feature films. Prowling the darkened rooftops of Gotham City, roaring through the teeming streets in the sleek, high-powered Batmobile, and leaping into action when the iconic Bat-Signal pierces the night sky, the Caped Crusader is a larger-than-life legend. And now, for the first time in more than thirty years, everything there is to know about Batman-from the beginning to the present, and from A to Z-is collected in one comprehensive new source book. More than 500 pages of entries and illustrations include: Even an all-access pass to the Batcave couldn't rival former DC Comics editor and Batman scholar extraordinaire Robert Greenberger's exhaustive ultimate archive. The Essential Batman Encyclopedia is a must for every Batman fan's bookshelf.»

These 30 ready-to-use wall decals add style to any room. For temporary décor that is easily removable and doesn't leave marks, just peel and stick

Keep track of the hands life deals you with this set of four sticky note pads, cleverly die-cut in the shapes of spade, heart, diamond, and club suits. Measuring a little over 2 x 2 1/4 inches on average, with each shaped pad having its own color, these stickies are perfect to use for tokens or markers, as well as for jotting brief notes.

Abstract flowers in raspberry and burnt orange decorate this notepad, designed to do double duty as a mouse pad. In fact, if your notepad and your mouse pad are always fighting it out on your desk—or if your mouse pad seems to have permanently collected the dust of the pharaohs—then the memo mousepad offers an elegant solution. Jot down quick thoughts or doodle to your heart's content on the generous blank space, then tear off that sheet to start fresh with a clean new pad. When the last page is gone, the memo mousepad leaves you with a decorative, fully functional mouse pad (without white space) measuring 6 3/4 inches square.

Decorated with an abstract motif of night-blooming flowers in black and white, accented with dark blue and pink, this large notepad can double as a mouse pad. In fact, if your notepad and your mouse pad are vying for space on your desk—or if your mouse pad never seems clean enough for you—then the memo mousepad offers an elegant solution. Jot down quick thoughts or doodle to your heart's content on the generous blank space, then tear off that sheet to start fresh with a clean new pad. When the last page is gone, the memo mousepad leaves you with a decorative, fully functional mouse pad (without white space) measuring 6 3/4 inches square.

Jack Gladney, head of Hitler studies at the College-on-the-Hill, is afraid of death, as is his wife Babette and his colleague Murray who runs a seminar on car crashes. The author exposes our common obsession with mortality, and Jack and Babette's biggest fear — who will die first?

Jonathan Safran Foer emerged as one of the most original writers of his generation with his best-selling debut novel, Everything Is Illuminated. Now, with humor, tenderness, and awe, he confronts the traumas of our recent history. Nine-year-old Oskar Schell has embarked on an urgent, secret mission that will take him through the five boroughs of New York. His goal is to find the lock that matches a mysterious key that belonged to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11. This seemingly impossible task will bring Oskar into contact with survivors of all sorts on an exhilarating, affecting, often hilarious, and ultimately healing journey.

Welcome to Castle de Chevalier, home of Duke Roland in the year 1280. The medieval castle is a powerful stronghold that controls and protects the countryside—but it's much more than a fortress filled with soldiers. The lord, his family, and knights all live there in style. This die-cut, castle-shaped book takes children inside, bringing them into the magnificent hall, comfortable chambers, beautiful chapel . . . and dark, scary dungeon! In addition to press-out jousting characters to play with, there are more than 150 flaps that hide fun surprises. Packed with fascinating facts and humorous, child-friendly text, Lift, Look and Learn Castle is a truly novel treatment of a classic historical subject for kids.