Sometimes a damaged child becomes a broken man... It's 1954 and Adam Carter is twelve years old, an only child with no friends nor any self confidence. His father Edward is a bully of a man. A successful and ruthless businessman, he breeds fear into the heart of his family. Adam's mother Peggy is too cowed to protect her son, so Adam's only support comes in the shape of Phil Wallis, the school bus driver. One particular afternoon, when Adam is his last drop of the day, Phil decides to accompany him along the darkening wood land to his house, never suspecting that as they chat innocently, in the house at the end of the track a terrible tragedy is unfolding which will change Adam's life forever.

Collins IGCSE(R) Physics provides complete coverage of the latest Cambridge IGCSE(R) syllabus for Physics and is packed full of questions, in depth content, practical investigative skills features and more.

A step-by-step guide to Spanish pronunciation that will help you to build your confidence and communicate better in Spanish. If your Spanish accent is letting you down, Easy Learning Spanish Pronunciation is perfect for you. You'll see and hear how to soften the influence of your mother tongue and speak clear Spanish everyone will understand. Aimed at beginners and at intermediate students who want to undo bad habits, Easy Learning Spanish Pronunciation focuses on spoken Spanish, and will help you to improve your pronunciation, confidence and fluency. The booklet and audio CD will guide you through how to pronounce each sound and gives real-life examples of where these sounds are used. It will help you recognize why your native language makes you mispronounce certain sounds and which sounds you therefore need to focus on. There are also plenty of opportunities for you to practice the Spanish sounds while listening to the native Spanish speaker on the audio CD. One of the section focuses on pronouncing items from a typical Spanish menu, so you can be sure you will always be understood. The booklet also contains illustrations of the mouth showing how to make Spanish sounds and memorable cartoons to help you remember pronunciation rules. In addition to teaching you how to pronounce Spanish words accurately, Easy Learning Spanish Pronunciation also covers the differences between the Spanish and English alphabet, stress and rhythm, the differences between accents within Spain and provides information on the differences between the Spanish spoken in Spain and Latin America. Easy Learning Spanish Pronunciation is a fun and enjoyable way of putting the finishing touches on your Spanish accent!

The Inspired Home: Interiors of Deep Beauty opens the door to twenty-five of the most beautiful homes in the world — ones owned by top interior designers, fashion designers, artists, and stylists — to reveal how simple principles borrowed from nature can inspire gorgeous, innovative interiors that both calm and embolden us. To create this unique volume, Karen Lehrman Bloch interviewed renowned aesthetes with homes all over the world, including interior designers Juan Montoya, Darryl Carter, and Vicente Wolf; fashion designers Donna Karan, Alberta Ferretti, and Consuelo Castiglioni; stylist Lori Goldstein; and artist Michele Oka Doner.The direct and practical advice featured inside, along with a wealth of extraordinary photographs of the homes, teaches us how to feel visually, understand color and texture, and find objects, new and used, with a sense of life. An inspired home, Bloch reveals, fulfills our physical and spiritual needs, provides an enduring sense of rejuvenation and pleasure, and is both easily attainable and timeless.

In the early 1960s, a struggling company called Marvel Comics presented a cast of brightly costumed characters distinguished by smart banter and compellingly human flaws: Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-Men. Over the course of half a century, Marvel's epic universe would become the most elaborate fictional narrative in history and serve as a modern American mythology for millions of readers. For the first time, Marvel Comics reveals the outsized personalities behind the scenes, including Martin Goodman, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and generations of editors, artists, and writers who struggled with commercial mandates, a fickle audience, and — over matters of credit and control — one another. Marvel Comics is a story of fertile imaginations, lifelong friendships, action-packed fistfights, and third-act betrayals — a narrative of one of the most extraordinary, beloved, and beleaguered pop-cultural entities in America's history.

What if your whole world was a lie? What if a single revelation — like a single choice — changed everything? What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected? The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

The classic first novel from the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature 2007. Doris Lessing brought the manuscript of 'The Grass is Singing' with her when she left Southern Rhodesia and came to England in 1950. When it was first published it created an impact whose reverberations we are still feeling, and immediately established itself as a landmark in twentieth-century literature. Set in Rhodesia, it tells the story of Dick Turner, a failed white farmer and his wife, Mary, a town girl who hates the bush. Trapped by poverty, sapped by the heat of their tiny brick and iron house, Mary, lonely and frightened, turns to Moses, the black cook, for kindness and understanding. A masterpiece of realism, 'The Grass is Singing' is a superb evocation of Africa's majestic beauty, an intense psychological portrait of lives in confusion and, most of all, a passionate exploration of the ideology of white supremacy.

The classic bestseller behind this year's epic second instalment The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, now in a perfectly-sized pocket hardback. This new film tie-in edition features the complete story of Bilbo Baggins' adventures in Middle-earth, with a striking cover image from Peter Jackson's film trilogy and drawings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey 'there and back again'. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon... The prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies since its publication in 1937, establishing itself as one of the most beloved and influential books of the twentieth century.

Film tie-in edition of the bestselling classic work of fantasy of Bilbo Baggins' adventures in Middle-earth, featuring the complete story as shown in the film trilogy, with a striking cover image from Peter Jackson's film adaptation and drawings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey 'there and back again'. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon... The prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies since its publication in 1937, establishing itself as one of the most beloved and influential books of the twentieth century.

With stickers and stunning activities, this amazing book introduces you to the world of Bilbo Baggins and his friends. This book is filled with information on all of the main characters from the new movie plus puzzles, quizzes and more. With colourful images and reusable stickers this is a Hobbit fan's dream!

Packed with exclusive behind-the-scenes photographs, this official illustrated guide tells the detailed story of the making of the second film in the award-winning Hobbit trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson. Journey deeper into the magical world of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, through exclusive interviews with director Peter Jackson, Martin Freeman, Orlando Bloom and principal filmmakers and new cast members, including Stephen Fry as the Master of Lake-town, Evangeline Lilly, who plays Tauriel the Elf, and Benedict Cumberbatch, who reveals film-making secrets about playing the dragon, Smaug. Richly illustrated with a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes photos of the actors, creatures and costumes, and numerous special effects scenes, this essential guide is an indispensable companion to the second film in the award-winning trilogy.

The second epic instalment of Peter Jackson's trilogy The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will see The Company of Thorin Oakenshield encounter even greater perils in their quest to claim their long-forgotten gold. After setting out from the safety of Bag End, Bilbo Baggins has journeyed through Middle-earth with his fourteen companions, fighting through fire, Wargs, Goblins and even escaping the creature known simply as Gollum. Introduced by Richard Armitage, who plays Thorin Oakenshield, and with over 100 rich illustrations, the Visual Companion is the perfect guide to the Company's passage to Erebor and the Dragon that awaits them...

The History of the World, but not as you know it. A new type of history is here — all 13.7 billion years of it, exploded into a visually jaw-dropping feast of facts, trends and timelines that tell you everything you'd ever want to know about the history of the world. From the primordial soup to the technological revolution of the 21st century, interesting stuff has been going on; and ever since prehistoric man scratched the first tally markings into a damp cave wall, we've been counting and measuring it all. Which historic warriors conquered the most territory, killed the most people, or had the largest empire? When did everything evolve? Which languages are related to which? What's been invented and when? Where are we being born, and what are we dying of? Which countries are eating all the food, causing all the pollution and taking all the drugs? A story of civilisation and barbarism, of war and peace, this is history done in a new way — a beautifully designed collection of the most insightful and revealing trends that tell us what the human race has been up to, and where we're heading.

The much anticipated final instalment in the bestselling conspiracy thriller trilogy by Simon Toyne, author of SANCTUS: 'Plenty of action, plenty of intrigue and wonderfully imaginative. The sort of novel to devour in one sitting' Kate Mosse. For all fans of Dan Brown. AFTER THE RISE, COMES THE FALL. The forbidden Citadel at the heart of the ancient Turkish city of Ruin opens its gates for the first time in history. Why now, after centuries of secrecy? A deadly disease has erupted within, and threatens to spread beyond its walls. Infected charity worker Gabriel Mann may hold the cure — but can one dying man stop an epidemic? Without him, former journalist Liv Adamsen is vulnerable, surrounded by strangers in the desert oasis that is her new home. Liv, however, has far bigger concerns than just her own life... In the USA, newly qualified FBI Agent Joe Shepherd investigates the disappearance of NASA's most senior professor. Is it a vanishing act, an abduction, or something darker? Shepherd's investigation approaches a powerful conspiracy with global reach, and profound consequences. For them all, this much is clear: something big is coming. Something that will change everything. But will it be a new beginning or the End of Days?

A sumptuous collection of favourite tales, with exquisitely detailed plates and decorative vignettes by illustrator, Sian Bailey. Open this book and enter the magical world of fairy tales, a land of mystery and enchantment, alive with handsome princes, wicked queens and beautiful heroines. This classically beautiful collection brings together twelve popular fairy tales, retold by well-known author Helen Cresswell and enhanced by Sian Bailey's finely detailed illlustrations.

Richard Dawkins is the worlds most famous atheist and evolutionary biologist. He is an undimmed firebrand for the cause of atheism and award winning science writer whose books, in the words of the New York Times, make the reader feel like a genius. His first book, The Selfish Gene, called the best work of popular science ever written by the New York Review of Books, caused a seismic shift in the study of evolutionary biology by proffering the gene-centric view of evolution. This was not only a paradigm shattering look at genetics, but a book that, since its publication in 1976, has sold more than a million copies around the world, and completely transformed the landscape of genetic research. The Selfish Gene also coined the term meme, a unit of cultural evolution, which has itself become a mainstay in contemporary culture. Then in 2006, Dawkins transformed the worlds cultural and intellectual landscape once again with The God Delusion, a takedown of religious faith, which has sold millions of copies around the world — nearly one million in the United States alone. He has since used his celebrity to further the cause of secular thought and provoke public debate. In this, his first memoir, characterized by Dawkins trademark vicious wit and dazzling eloquence, he tells the fascinating story of how this hugely influential man learned to think, to ask questions, and to forge great ideas. From his idyllic childhood in colonial Kenya to the raucous debates at Berkeley and Oxford, Dawkins shares here, for the first time, the details of his intellectual awakening and the thrilling path to the creation of The Selfish Gene.

Award-winning and international bestselling author Lynda La Plante returns with the eighth installment in her acclaimed series featuring London's Detective Chief Inspector Anna Travis. Late night on a notorious high-rise estate in the borough of Hackney. A woman on the street never makes it home after a long night of drinking. A white van is being driven erratically. The driver is pulled over by the police and questioned. A suspect... an arrest... a confession. Case closed? Five years earlier, a thirteen-year-old girl disappeared in broad daylight on a busy London street. Detective Chief Superintendent James Langton headed the investigation; the case was never solved. It has haunted him ever since. And now comes another confession, to this murder, and to one more besides. But is it too good to be true? After being pulled into the fray, Anna Travis isn't so sure that they have their man. Then the suspect changes his story...

«Kodachrome film saturated the 1940s with an unprecedented explosion of color. Movie audiences, accustomed to seeing photographs of their favorite stars on magazine covers, billboards, and cinema marquees in monochrome or black-and-white, were suddenly enthralled as their idols came to life in vibrant hues as flesh-and-blood human beings. For the first time, the world was treated to the glory of Rita Hayworth's auburn hair, Gary Cooper's blue eyes, Betty Grable's rosy cheeks, and the multicolored fruit bouquets of Carmen Miranda's hats. Curator and photographic preservationist David Wills has amassed one of the world's largest private collections of original Kodachromes and color photographs from the 1940s. Now, in Hollywood in Kodachrome, he has gathered spectacular, museum-quality work from many of the great photographers of Hollywood's golden era — George Hurrell, Clarence Sinclair Bull, John Engstead, Paul Hesse, Ernest Bachrach, Bernard of Hollywood, Robert Coburn, Ray Jones, Bud Fraker, Frank Powolny, Eugene Robert Richee, and many others — to create this stunning portfolio of images that pays homage to the richest, clearest, most brilliant, and archivally dependable film stock in history. Among the highlights: Rare and classic images digitally restored from their original 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10 Kodachrome sheet transparencies, vintage Carbro and dye transfer prints, and modern Cibachrome prints. Never-before-seen publicity photos, scene stills, and work shots from many of Hollywood's most beloved films of the 1940s. Previously unpublished portraits of Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Lana Turner, Errol Flynn, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, and many others. Rare «posed candids» and behind-the-scenes photos of stars at play, poolside, relaxing at home, and with family. Unpublished outtakes of stars in famous ad campaigns, including Max Factor, Lux, Lipton Tea, Lucky Strike, and Royal Crown Cola. Never-before-seen WWII patriot photography of stars in service uniform and posing with the American flag. Pairing more than 250 first-generation photographs with vintage magazine covers, advertisements, movie posters, quotes from photographers, and a personal foreword by Hollywood's «Queen of Technicolor», Rhonda Fleming, Hollywood in Kodachrome is an unforgettable showcase of a time when movies were truly glamorous and color photography reigned supreme at its most luscious.»

The classic bestseller behind this year's biggest movie, this film tie-in edition features the complete story of Bilbo Baggins' adventures in Middle-earth as shown in the film trilogy, with a striking cover image from Peter Jackson's film adaptation and drawings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey 'there and back again'. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon... The prelude to The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit has sold many millions of copies since its publication in 1937, establishing itself as one of the most beloved and influential books of the twentieth century.

Fully updated for 2014, a collection of extremely clear, route-planning maps of Britain and Ireland that fits neatly into the glovebox, pocket, or bag. This handy road atlas makes for the ideal traveling companion. The maps of Britain are at 9.9 miles to 1 inch and the whole of Ireland is covered at 15.8 miles to 1 inch. There is a selection of more detailed urban-area maps at a 4.5 miles to 1 inch scale to aid route planning in these busy areas. The atlas also includes national rail map for planning your complete journey; money-off vouchers from Europcar and Castle Cover Insurance; road maps that focus on the main roads, motorways, and settlements; and useful distance-calculator chart highlighting distances between the major towns.