Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable and quiet life. His contentment is disturbed one day when the wizard, Gandalf, and the dwarves arrive to take him away on an adventure. Smaug certainly looked fast asleep, when Bilbo peeped once more from the entrance. He was just about to step out on to the floor when he caught a sudden thin ray of red from under the drooping lid of Smaug's left eye. He was only pretending to sleep! He was watching the tunnel entrance! Whisked from his comfortable hobbit-hole by Gandalf the wizard and a band of dwarves. Bilbo Baggins finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon...

A curriculum-supportive Primary World Atlas for children aged 7-11 years (Key Stage 2). Designed for use in the classroom or at home, this revised edition includes informative politically coloured reference mapping of all major world regions.

A hilarious field guide to the world's most remarkable and unusual creatures: the English Thanks to television documentaries by Bruce Parry and David Attenborough, we are better acquainted with the hunting rituals of the San bushmen and the mating habits of Papua New Guinean tribes than we are with the everyday lives of the strangest species of them all — the English. In Life on England, Sunday Times journalist Matt Rudd, sets out to uncover what makes us, the English, tick. He will examine us in our natural habitats, starting with the living room and moving out to the kitchen, the garden, the commuter train, the office, the motorway, the high street, the sports stadium, the pub, club, bingo hall, balti house, beach and ending up in the bedroom.

An earthquake in Masada, Israel, kills hundreds and reveals a tomb buried in the heart of the mountain. A trio of investigators-Sergeant Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert; Father Rhun Korza, a Vatican priest; and Dr, Erin Granger, a brilliant but disillusioned archaeologist-are sent to explore the macabre discovery, a subterranean temple holding the crucified body of a mummified girl. But a brutal attack at the site sets the three on the run, thrusting them into a race to recover what was once preserved in the tombs sarcophagus: a book rumored to have been written by Christs own hand, a tome that is said to hold the secrets to His divinity. The enemy who hounds them is like no other, a force of ancient evil directed by a leader of impossible ambitions and incalculable cunning. From crumbling tombs to splendorous churches, Erin and her two companions must confront a past that traces back thousands of years, to a time when ungodly beasts hunted the dark spaces of the world, to a moment in history when Christ made a miraculous offer, a pact of salvation for those who were damned for eternity. Here is a novel that is explosive in its revelation of a secret history. Why do Catholic priests wear pectoral crosses? Why are they sworn to celibacy? Why do the monks hide their countenances under hoods? And why does Catholicism insist that the consecration of wine during Mass results in its transformation to Christs own blood? The answers to all go back to a secret sect within the Vatican, one whispered as rumor but whose very existence was painted for all to see by Rembrandt himself, a shadowy order known simply as the Sanguines. In the end, be warned: some books should never be found, never opened — until now.

For the first time, Lauren Oliver's short stories about characters in the Delirium world appear in print. Originally published as digital novellas, Hana, Annabel, and Raven each center around a fascinating and complex character who adds important information to the series and gives it greater depth. This collection also includes an excerpt from Requiem, the final novel in Oliver's New York Times bestselling series. Hana is told through the perspective of Lena's best friend, Hana Tate. Set during the tumultuous summer before Lena and Hana are supposed to be cured, this story is a poignant and revealing look at a moment when the girls' paths diverge and their futures are altered forever. Lena's mother, Annabel, has always been a mystery — a ghost from Lena's past — until now. Her journey from teenage runaway to prisoner of the state is a taut, gripping narrative that expands the Delirium world and illuminates events — and Lena — through a new point of view. And as the passionate, fierce leader of a rebel group in the Wilds, Raven plays an integral role in the resistance effort and comes into Lena's life at a crucial time. Crackling with intensity, Raven is a brilliant story told in the voice of one of the strongest and most tenacious characters in the Delirium world.

Discworld's only demonology hacker, Eric, is about to make life very difficult for the rest of Ankh-Morpork's denizens. This would-be Faust is very bad... at his work, that is. All he wants is to fulfill three little wishes: to live forever, to be master of the universe, and to have a stylin' hot babe. But Eric isn't even good at getting his own way. Instead of a powerful demon, he conjures, well, Rincewind, a wizard whose incompetence is matched only by Eric's. And as if that wasn't bad enough, that lovable travel accessory the Luggage has arrived, too. Accompanied by his best friends, there's only one thing Eric wishes now — that he'd never been born!

The bestselling author of The Madonnas of Leningrad returns with a breathtaking novel of love, madness, and devotion set against the extravagant royal court of eighteenth-century St. Petersburg. Born to a Russian family of lower nobility, Xenia, an eccentric dreamer who cares little for social conventions, falls in love with Andrei, a charismatic soldier and singer in the Empress's Imperial choir. Though husband and wife adore each other, their happiness is overshadowed by the absurd demands of life at the royal court and by Xenia's growing obsession with having a child — a desperate need that is at last fulfilled with the birth of her daughter. But then a tragic vision comes true, and a shattered Xenia descends into grief, undergoing a profound transformation that alters the course of her life. Turning away from family and friends, she begins giving all her money and possessions to the poor. Then, one day, she mysteriously vanishes. Years later, dressed in the tatters of her husband's military uniform and answering only to his name, Xenia is discovered tending the paupers of St. Petersburg's slums. Revered as a soothsayer and a blessed healer to the downtrodden, she is feared by the royal court and its new Empress, Catherine, who perceives her deeds as a rebuke to their lavish excesses. In this evocative and elegantly written tale, Dean reimagines the intriguing life of Xenia of St. Petersburg, a patron saint of her city and one of Russia's most mysterious and beloved holy figures. This is an exploration of the blessings of loyal friendship, the limits of reason, and the true costs of loving deeply.

The uplifting and thoughtful novel from the uniquely talented author. Everyone has a story to tell... Kitty Logan has lost her way... As a journalist, she's spent the past few years chasing the big scoops — no matter the consequences. When she makes a terrible mistake, she finds herself mired in scandal, her career implodes and even her personal relationships are tested to the limit. At a loss, Kitty finds distraction in a list of one hundred names that her late mentor and boss, Constance, has left her. Kitty's been given one final chance, the most important assignment of her life — to write the story behind the one hundred names as a tribute piece to Constance. As she tracks down the people on the list and tries to work out what connects them, Kitty meets some extraordinary people. Can these strangers' stories help her finally understand her own?

Rachel Gibson, New York Times bestselling author of Rescue Me, returns to Texas with a tale of what happens when a tough guy meets his match — and falls harder than a ton of red-hot bricks. There's nothing like fleeing Miami to ruin a girl's day. Stella Leon's bartending gig was going fine until gorgeous ex-Marine Beau Junger decked her mob-connected boss, spirited her out of the city, and claimed that Stella's half-sister — the one with the perfect life — sent him. Now Stella has no choice but to go along for the ride... and seduce Beau's military-issue socks off... The Marine Corps was Beau's escape from his old man's legacy of naval heroism and serial philandering, but no amount of training could prepare him for the day he looked in the mirror and saw his father staring back. The answer: swear off meaningless sex. Oh, and find a way to make Stella Leon quit being so damn hot...

New York Times bestselling author Tilly Bagshawe, who delivered the late beloved author's brilliance in Sidney Sheldon's After the Darkness, is back with a stunning tale of duplicity and vengeance in Sidney Sheldon's The Tides of Memory. The members of the formidable and captivating De Vere family of London live enviable lives in the world's most powerful and desirable places, from London's poshest neighborhoods to influential boardrooms. But when old secrets begin to unravel and threaten everything the De Veres have worked for, the ramifications are deadly. Bagshawe upholds Sheldon's legacy with a blistering story of revenge, passion, and betrayal in a book that is quintessential Sheldon.

Splat's friends are having a band rehearsal for their rock band, the Cat Gang. They want Splat to play with them, too! But what will he play?

Unnatural Creatures is a collection of short stories about the fantastical things that exist only in our minds — collected and introduced by beloved New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman. The sixteen stories gathered by Gaiman, winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards, range from the whimsical to the terrifying. The magical creatures range from werewolves to sunbirds to beings never before classified. E. Nesbit, Diana Wynne Jones, Gahan Wilson, and other literary luminaries contribute to the anthology. Sales of Unnatural Creatures benefit 826DC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students in their creative and expository writing, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

Another warm, wise and witty offering from Sunday Times bestseller Trisha Ashley. Becoming a single mother was never in Cally's plan, but when her little girl Stella is born with a rare heart condition, she throws herself into finding her the best medical care. When that means a pioneering operation in America, Cally must move home to Sticklepond in order to save up. She couldn't imagine the support the villagers would give, raising money and raising spirits. One villager in particular, baker Jago, will become very important indeed...

The star of aspirational women's fiction returns with a charming central lead who won't let life's events define her — she makes her own luck. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and The Holiday. How far would you go to make a new start? When Nell's on-off boyfriend Aidan calls her into his office, losing her job is the last thing she expects. Heartbroken and unemployed to boot, she makes a radical decision to blow her redundancy cheque and escape to the untested waters of San Francisco. But is the glamour of the city too good to be true? And can Nell leave her past behind?

To discover the sweetest things in life, you sometimes have to lose your way... It's easy to fall in love with the hustle and bustle of the beautiful town of Redstone — and amidst all the activity, two women believe they are getting on just fine. Francesca's boundless energy and sunny optimism help her take everything in her stride, including a husband who has lost his job and the unwelcome arrival of the menopause, which has kicked in — full throttle. Peggy has always been a restless spirit. But now, focused and approaching thirty, she has opened her own knitting shop on the town's high street. It's a dream come true, but she still feels adrift. When Australian-raised Lillie finally makes it back home to Ireland, she is drawn right into the heart of the community. But what she thought would be an ending is actually just a beginning — all is not quite as it seems in the picturesque town...

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.