'The first and greatest of English detective novels' of T.S.Eliot. A fabulous yellow diamond becomes the dangerous inheritance of Rachel Verinder. Outside her Yorkshire country house watch the Hindu priests who have waited for many years to reclaim their ancient talisman, looted from the holy city of Somnauth. When the Moonstone disappears the case looks simple, but in mid-Victorian England no one is what they seem, and nothing can be taken for granted. Witnesses, suspects, and detectives take up the story in turn. The bemused butler, the love-stricken housemaid, the enigmatic detective Sergeant Cuff, the drug-addicted scientist, each speculate on the mystery as Collins weaves their narratives into a masterpiece of construction and suspense. But The Moonstone is more than just a detective novel or a murder mystery and this new edition features a fascinating introduction by John Sutherland which discusses the themes of Imperialism, Sensationalism and Mesmerism and the way in which they operate in the novel and within its cultural context.

'I am Heathcliff — he's always, always in my mind...' Discovered on the streets of Liverpool, Heathcliff is rescued by Mr Earnshaw and taken to the remote Yorkshire farmhouse of Wuthering Heights. Earnshaw's daughter Catherine rapidly forms a passionate attachment to him, but when Catherine's brother takes over the Heights, Heathcliff is lowered to the position of a barely-tolerated farmhand. When Catherine decides to marry the refined Edgar Linton instead, Heathcliff turns revenger. He determines to degrade not only those who sought to degrade him, but their children after them. Wuthering Heights is one of the most famous love stories in the English language. It is also, as the Introduction to this edition explores, one of the most potent revenge narratives. Its ingenious narrative structure, vivid evocation of landscape, and the extraordinary power of its depiction of love and hatred have given it a unique place in English literature. This edition reproduces the authoritative Clarendon text, with revised and expanded notes and a selection from the poems of Emily Bronte.

Did you know that 'flavour of the month' originated in a marketing campaign in American ice-cream parlours in the 1940s, when a particular flavour would be specially promoted for a month at a time? And did you know that 'off the cuff' refers to the rather messy practice of writing impromptu notes on one's shirt cuff before speaking in public? These and many more idioms are explained and put into context in this third edition of the Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. The volume takes a fresh look at the idiomatic phrases and sayings that make English the rich and intriguing language that it is. This major new edition contains entries for over 6,000 idioms, including 700 entirely new entries, based on Oxford's language monitoring and the ongoing third edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. These include a range of recently established idioms such as 'the elephant in the corner', 'go figure', 'like a rat up a drainpipe', 'sex on legs', 'step up to the plate', 'too posh to push', 'a walk in the park', 'win ugly'. This edition also features a greatly increased number of cross-references, making it ideal for quick reference. Many entries include additional features which give more detailed background on the idiom in question. For example, did you know that 'taken aback' was adopted from nautical terminology that described a ship unable to move forward because of a strong headwind pressing its sails back against the mast? Anyone interested in the colourful side of the English language will get hours of fun browsing from this fascinating and informative volume.

Drawing on the unique resources of the Oxford English Dictionary and offering coverage of over 6,000 slang words and expressions from the Cockney 'abaht' to the American term 'zowie', this is the most authoritative dictionary of slang from the 20th and 21st centuries. The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang is a fascinating and entertaining collection, packed with illustrative quotations and providing full details of origins and dates of first printed use. The text contains expressions from around the English-speaking world such as 'dork' and 'cockamamie' (North America) and 'giggle-house' and 'Jimmy Woodser' (Australia). As well as the A-Z listing of terms, the book contains a comprehensive thematic index, enabling users to home in on particular areas of interest, such as the body, food and drink, and human behaviour. Full of surprises, this is an essential read for word lovers and anyone with an interest in language.

The Oxford Essential Russian Dictionary is a new compact Russian-English and English-Russian dictionary that offers up-to-date coverage of all the essential day-to-day vocabulary with over 40,000 words and phrases and 60,000 translations. This dictionary is easy to use and ideal for travel, work, or study. The latest words in each language have been added, reflecting all aspects of life today, from computing and technology to lifestyle and business. Additional features include guides to Russian and English pronunciation, as well as help with both Russian and English verbs. The Oxford Essential Russian Dictionary is ideal for anyone in need of a handy quick reference. An essential book for the study of Russian.

At the centre of Hide and Seek (1854) a secret waits to be revealed. Why should the apparently respectable painter Valentine Blyth refuse to account for the presence in his household of the beautiful girl known as Madonna? It is not until his young friend Zack Thorpe, who is in rebellion against his repressive father, gets into bad company and meets a mysterious stranger that the secret of Madonna can be unravelled. Wilkie Collins's third novel, dedicated to his life-long friend Dickens, is a story in which excitement is combined with charm and humour. In its mixture of the everyday and the extraordinary, Hide and Seek forms a bridge between the domestic novel and the sensational fiction for which Collins later became famous.

Winnie and Wilbur love their vegetables. They are regulars at the weekly farmers' market to stock up on their greens, but bringing them back home on a broomstick proves to be rather hazardous. So Winnie decides to grow her own and digs a vegetable patch in her garden. Not having the patience of a true gardener, she uses a little magic to speed up the growing process... only to end up with a garden overrun by enormous vegetables. She uses her giant pumpkin to make pumpkin pies, pumpkin scones, creamy pumpkin soup for Wilbur, and dish after dish of roast pumpkin. She invites all her neighbours to help themselves to pumpkin, too. Eventually the yummy orange flesh is all gone but the shell remains. What can Winnie do with it? She waves her wand, shouts 'Abracadabra!', and something amazing happens...

Ronia lives with her father, a robber chieftain, and his band of men in their fortress on the top of a mountain. On the night Ronia was born, a bolt of lightning split the stronghold in two, leaving a huge chasm — Hell's Gap — in between. Soon Ronia is old enough to explore the forest around her, but she must beware of the grey dwarfs and wild harpies that live there. One day she meets Birk, the son of a rival robber leader who has claimed the other side of Hell's Gap, and upon whom Ronia's father instantly declares war. Ronia and Birk develop a friendship that is as indestructible as the mountain fortress itself. But with their families sworn enemies they are forced to keep their friendship a secret until one fateful day when Ronia's father catches Birk... prompting Ronia and Birk to escape into the woods and fend for themselves. How long can Ronia and Birk survive in the magical forest? And will their fathers ever put aside their differences to get their beloved children back?

'If life could write, it would write like Tolstoy.'Isaac Babel Tolstoy's epic masterpiece intertwines the lives of private and public individuals during the time of the Napoleonic wars and the French invasion of Russia. The fortunes of the Rostovs and the Bolkonskys, of Pierre, Natasha, and Andrei, are intimately connected with the national history that is played out in parallel with their lives. Balls and soirees alternate with councils of war and the machinations of statesmen and generals, scenes of violent battles with everyday human passions in a work whose extraordinary imaginative power has never been surpassed. The prodigious cast of characters, both great and small, seem to act and move as if connected by threads of destiny as the novel relentlessly questions ideas of free will, fate, and providence. Yet Tolstoy's portrayal of marital relations and scenes of domesticity is as truthful and poignant as the grand themes that underlie them. In this revised and updated version of the definitive and highly acclaimed Maude translation, Tolstoy's genius and the power of his prose are made newly available to the contemporary reader.

This beautiful book will delight young animal lovers. Through evocative paintings, children are brought face to face with wildlife from around the world. Brian Wildsmith has captured the essence of each animal — from the playfulness of otters to a noisy gathering of parrots. His panoramic pictures also give a real sense of the animals' habitats-from a sun-soaked plain where elephants roam to icy Antarctica where penguins huddle together. Collective nouns — some familiar, others wonderfully surprising — are used to describe each group of animals. This is a book that will inspire a love of nature and a respect for animals from the earliest age.

When Puddle was barely more than an egg, he couldn't wait to start duckling school.' So begins this story about feelings of excitement, anticipation, and understandable nervousness that surround an approaching first day at nursery school. Puddle, a little duckling, is like so many preschool children in desperately wanting to be grown-up enough to go to school and to have his own school bag. But as the day draws nearer, Puddle begins to feel rather wobbly about the whole concept! Luckily Mummy knows just what to do. She packs items into Puddle's school bag that will help him through his first day — one of her softest feathers to remind him she is never far away, some home-made biscuits for him to share with his new friends, his Cuddly for the afternoon nap — and, as the story unfolds, we discover how Puddle's enjoyment of his first day builds each time he finds one of Mummy's tokens in his bag. Puddle spends a happy day counting caterpillars, matching ladybirds, leaping from lily pad to lily pad, and decorating a leafy twig. So, by going-home time, he can put his twig in his bag to take home for Mummy. This is just the right story to boost confidence for those starting preschool, nursery or kindergarten — children will love to share everything about Puddle's first day.

Wobble Bear is learning to talk and his mum is trying to teach him about colours. But the only colour he will say is 'yellow'. Yellow to the pink soap, yellow to the red towel, yellow to his green pyjamas ...until finally he gets it right and says yellow to the harvest moon at bedtime. Parents and toddlers everywhere will love watching Wobble Bear learn and will relate to all his little triumphs and disasters as they follow his antics. A very loveable little bear is ready to entertain in this fun-filled celebration of language — perfect for toddlers who are just starting to build up their own vocabulary and a perfect format for little hands, too!

This activities book is part of a two-level English course for children aged 6-8 that takes an aural/oral approach to learning English. The language arises naturally from the original chants, songs, and stories. Games, puzzles, cutting and pasting activities, and mini-projects are presented in a lively and colourful way. The action centres around a family, the children's imaginary friend, their teddy, and their dog.

Toddlers and parents everywhere will recognize Small Rabbit's lack of enthusiasm as the story opens. He just doesn't want to go for a walk and he comes up with all sorts of excuses to stay indoors. But Big Rabbit is having none of it. She bundles him into his coat and out they go, with Small Rabbit shivering and grumbling as he shuffles along. Perhaps it's because he's too far behind Big Rabbit, perhaps it's because the wind is howling, but when Big Rabbit says, 'Try to keep up!' what Small Rabbit hears is 'Jump in the mud!' And so he does. In fact everything Big Rabbit says-thanks to the wind-turns from a rather humdrum instruction into something much more exciting and Small Rabbit finds himself having a really wild time. Becoming muddier by the moment, and causing more and more mayhem, Small Rabbit romps ahead. Big Rabbit's last instruction, as Small Rabbit bounds home to their burrow is, 'Please don't go inside!' (she's worried about muddy footprints and leaves all over her lovely clean burrow). But Small Rabbit thinks she's asking him to find somewhere to hide and the story ends with a resounding 'Boo!' from Small Rabbit as he jumps from his hiding place into Big Rabbit's arms, declaring 'Windy walks are lots of fun!'

Fun, motivating lessons that work. The perfect balance of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and skills to help your students use English really effectively. A complete package for teachers and students. The Teacher's Book gives you the support you need, and all the components work together for more effective learning.

A totally new edition of the world's most-trusted English course. Tried and tested all over the world, Headway is the course that teachers and learners rely on. Headway works in the classroom: — A realistic, well-supported syllabus. — A measured step-by-step approach. — Careful recycling at every opportunity. — Headway teaches real language in real contexts. — A solid foundation of grammar and skills work. — Useful vocabulary and collocations. — Everyday language in everyday situations. Headway offers full support: — Resources for students in the Workbook, on the Student's Workbook AudioCD, and on the Students' Website at www.oup.com/elt/headway. — Resources for teachers in the Teacher's Book with printable, adaptable resources on the Teacher's Resource Disc, and on the Teachers' Website at www.oup.com/elt/teacher/headway. John and Liz Soars and Headway are names that have become synonymous with English language teaching and learning worldwide. Their strong pedagogic principles, their extensive teaching and teacher-training experience, together with 20 years of writing Headway, all come together in this impressive third edition.

Thomson and Martinet's classic grammar is the most widely used book of its kind. It is popular because its explanations are clear and because it deals thoroughly with the topics which students find most difficult. It is intended for intermediate and post-intermediate learners, but is also a useful source of reference for more advanced students and for teachers. A Practical English Grammar has now been revised and reissued in a fourth edition. The text has been rewritten in many places to bring it up to date. Some material has been rearranged to make it simpler for the reader to compare related topics. There is fresh or fuller treatment of many subjects, notably in the chapters on nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, auxiliary verbs, the infinitive and the passive. A new index contains many more entries and now includes references to every important structural word. These changes, and an improved design, make A Practical English Grammar more informative and easier to consult than ever. The following titles are recommended for use alongside the Grammar: — A Practical English Grammar: Exercises 1 and 2 (also available in low-priced editions). — A Practical English Grammar: Structure Drills 1 and 2.

At last — the secrets of Bletchley Park's powerful codebreaking computers. This is a history of Colossus, the world's first fully-functioning electronic digital computer. Colossus was used during the Second World War at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, where it played an invaluable role cracking enemy codes. Until very recently, much about the Colossus machine was shrouded in secrecy, largely because the codes that were employed remained in use by the British security services until a short time ago. This book only became possible due to the declassification in the US of wartime documents. With an introductory essay on cryptography and the history of code-breaking by Simon Singh, this book reveals the workings of Colossus and the extraordinary staff at Bletchley Park through personal accounts by those who lived and worked with the computer. Among them is the testimony of Thomas Flowers, who was the architect of Colossus and whose personal account, written shortly before he died, is published here for the first time. Other essays consider the historical importance of this remarkable machine, and its impact on the generations of computing technology that followed.

How does an intruder get into Winnie's house? Intruder windows. What does an Australian witch ride on? A broomerang. With pages chock-full of Winnie's and Wilbur's favourites, Winnie's Jokes will leave children in stitches. Great for sharing with family and friends.

Winnie and Wilbur love their vegetables. They are regulars at the weekly farmers' market to stock up on their greens, but bringing them back home on a broomstick proves to be rather hazardous. So Winnie decides to grow her own and digs a vegetable patch in her garden. Not having the patience of a true gardener, she uses a little magic to speed up the growing process... only to end up with a garden overrun by enormous vegetables. She uses her giant pumpkin to make pumpkin pies, pumpkin scones, creamy pumpkin soup for Wilbur, and dish after dish of roast pumpkin. She invites all her neighbours to help themselves to pumpkin, too. Eventually the yummy orange flesh is all gone but the shell remains. What can Winnie do with it? She waves her wand, shouts 'Abracadabra!', and something amazing happens... This edition comes with an audio CD where the story is narrated over an imaginative soundtrack of music and effects.