Set in Lima, Peru this is the story of a bizarre love triangle whose participants may be the creations of Don Rigoberto's fertile imagination. The central characters are Rigoberto himself, a dull insurance executive by day, a pornogapher and sexual enthusiast by night; Lucrecia, his second wife; and Alfonso, his angel-faced young son. Husband and wife have been separated for a year because of a sexual encounter between the boy and his stepmother. Rigoberto misses Lucrecia desperately — filling notebooks with his memories, fantasies, and letters he will never send. Meanwhile, Alfonso visits Lucrecia, attempting to both win her love and reunite her with his father. A companion volume to In Praise of the Stepmother — where we were first introduced to these passionate characters — The Notebooks of Don Rigoberto is a compelling mix of fantasy and reality that always keep the reader guessing.

A small island in the North Atlantic, colonized by Rome, then pillaged for hundreds of years by marauding neighbours, becomes the dominant world power in the nineteenth century. As its power spreads, its language inevitably follows. Then, across the Atlantic, a colony of that tiny island grows into the military and cultural colossus of the twentieth century.

On any given morning, on the street corners of a Russian city, little kiosks suddenly appear. As soon as their shutters open, a queue forms, men and women lining up in the hope of a little bit of luxury: a pair of silk stockings or a box of chocolates. One morning news spreads that the exiled composer, Selinsky, will be returning to the city for one concert only, and there is one kiosk, somewhere, selling tickets to this most magical event of the year. So begins the story of a family, in which a ticket to Selinsky's concert means everything: for Sergei, the father, it holds the promise of an affair with another woman; for his wife, Anna, it offers the hope of winning back her faithless husband; for their son, Alexander, it means the possibility of escaping to the West.

It's Spitalfields, 1840. Catherine Sorgeiul lives with her Uncle in a rambling house in London's East End. She has few companions and little to occupy the days beyond her own colourful imagination. But then a murderer strikes, ripping open the chests of young girls and stuffing hair into their mouths to resemble a beak, leading the press to christen him The Man of Crows. And as Catherine hungrily devours the news, she finds she can channel the voices of the dead... and comes to believe she will eventually channel The Man of Crows himself. But the murders continue to panic the city and Catherine gradually realizes she is snared in a deadly trap, where nothing is as it first appears... and lurking behind the lies Catherine has been told are secrets more deadly and devastating than anything her imagination can conjure. With an elegant style and thrilling plot, The Pleasures of Men reveals the dark, beating heart of corrupt London during Queen Victoria's reign.

Dublin DIRECTIONS has all you need to get the most out of Ireland's capital city. Whether you're on a weekend break or weeklong visit, this guide highlights all the top places to stay, the sights not to miss, the coolest bars and the tastiest restaurants. From learning about Dublin's literary greats and fascinating history, to tasting your first Guinness in the legendary brewery, this richly illustrated guide explores the very best the city has to offer. The main section of this stylish guide uncovers the city district by district, with every sight, restaurant, bar and shop located on easy-to-use maps!it's like having a local friend plan your trip!

The bestselling Wee Sing line is now tailored for the most modern Wee Sing fans! These eight classic Wee Sing titles are now in a great new package — a book and CD in a reusable blister!

When and why did 'thou' disappear from Standard English? Would a Victorian Cockney have said 'observation' or 'hobservation'? Was Jane Austen making a mistake when she wrote 'Jenny and James are walked to Charmonth this afternoon'? This superbly well-informed — and also wonderfully entertaining — history of the English language answers all these questions, showing how the many strands of English (Standard English, dialect and slang among them) developed to create the richly-varied language of today.

Since childhood, Kusama has been afflicted with a condition that makes her see spots, which means she sees the world in a surreal, almost hallucinogenic way that sits very well with the Wonderland of Alice. She is fascinated by childhood and the way adults have the ability, at their most creative, to see things the way children do, a central concern of the Alice books. The classic book will be colour illustrated with a clothbound jacket, and produced to very high specification. Kusama's images will be interspersed throughout the text.

When her boyfriend John dies in a dreadful accident, his girlfriend Emma is plunged into despair. Emma loved John more than life itself and now she has lost everything that matters. Or so she thinks. For Emma has good friends who rally around. But the memory of that night returns to haunt each of them and they struggle to pick up the pieces.

«The epic story of Thomas Cale-introduced so memorably in «The Left Hand of God» — continues as the Redeemers use his prodigious gifts to further their sacred goal: the extinction of humankind and the end of the world. To the warrior-monks known as the Redeemers, who rule over massive armies of child slaves, «the last four things» represent the culmination of a faithful life. Death. Judgement. Heaven. Hell. The last four things represent eternal bliss-or endless destruction, permanent chaos, and infinite pain. Perhaps nowhere are the competing ideas of heaven and hell exhibited more clearly than in the dark and tormented soul of Thomas Cale. Betrayed by his beloved but still marked by a child's innocence, possessed of a remarkable aptitude for violence but capable of extreme tenderness, Cale will lead the Redeemers into a battle for nothing less than the fate of the human race. And though his broken heart foretells the bloody trail he will leave in pursuit of a personal peace he can never achieve, a glimmer of hope remains. The question even Cale can't answer: When it comes time to decide the fate of the world, to ensure the extermination of humankind or spare it, what will he choose? To express God's will on the edge of his sword, or to forgive his fellow man-and himself?»

Berlitz: Pocket Guide Moscow combines informative text with vivid colour photography to uncover this booming European capital. It covers everything you need to know about the city's attractions, from the Kremlin — the spiritual, artistic and ruling heart of Russia — and Red Square, with the iconic domes of St Basil's Cathedral, to more outlying areas. Handy maps on the cover flaps help you navigate, and the book uses colour-coding to differentiate between sections. To inspire you, the book offers a rundown of the Moscow's Top 10 Attractions, followed by an itinerary for a Perfect Day in the city. The What To Do chapter is a snapshot of ways to spend your spare time, from shopping and bath houses to entertainment and children's activities. The book provides all the essential background information, including a brief overview of Moscow's tumultuous history and an Eating Out chapter covering the city's cuisine. There are carefully chosen listings of the best hotels and restaurants, and an A-Z of all the practical information you'll need.

To support her orphaned niece, impoverished Brianna O'Keefe accepts work with a Colorado rancher. To guard herself from unwanted attention, she resorts to a harmless little lie: that she's married to a Denver gold miner named David Paxton. But when her husband shows up, Brianna is stunned-not the least by her desire...

To the red country and part of the gray country of Oklahoma, the last rains came gently, and they did not cut the scarred earth. Drought and economic depression are driving thousands from Oklahoma. As their land becomes just another strip in the dust bowl, the Joads, a family of sharecroppers, decide they have no choice but to follow. They head west, towards California, where they hope to find work and a future for their family. But while the journey to this promised land will take its inevitable toll, there remains uncertainty about what awaits their arrival... Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, The Grapes of Wrath is an epic human drama. Of this novel, Steinbeck himself said: I've done my damndest to rip a reader's nerves to rags, I don't want him satisfied.

The bestselling Wee Sing line is now tailored for the most modern Wee Sing fans! These eight classic Wee Sing titles are now in a great new package book and CD in a reusable blister!

Offering super quick, tasty, nutritious food that you can eat everyday of the week, this book arms you with the skills to create wonderful meals, shockingly fast. It features recipes such as classic chicken, steak and pasta dishes, looking at Asian-inspired street food and brilliant Moroccan flavours, putting together great salads.

From babyhood Eve and Lilly were best friends. But one summer apart, one huge fight and 17 years later Eve wakes up from a horrific accident to find her old friend nursing her. At first, their reunion is tentative — Lilly merely doing her duty and Eve distracted by her pain and grief. But during the months Eve spends in hospital they confront both the lies of the past and their present failures. Each clearly sees what the other must do to get a messy life back on track: Lilly needs to leave an impossible marriage and Eve needs to face up to the pain she has caused others and open her heart to let people in. It seems the crisis that brought Eve and Lilly together again was a blessing that has given them a second chance to be there for each when they most need someone to lean on. But little do they suspect that their friendship is under a threat that will change the future forever...

Meet Helen — youngest of the Walsh sisters and a law unto herself. She's easily bored, has an inability to filter her thoughts and was fired from every job she ever had before she found her true calling as a private investigator. But times are tough for PIs and Helen's had no choice but to take on the search for AWOL boyband has-been Wayne Diffney — The Wacky One. It's not all bad this game of Where's Wayne. It may have brought her charming crook of an ex Jay Parker back into her life, but it's giving her an excuse to avoid the usual Walsh family dramas and the intense looks from her gorgeous boyfriend Artie that make her heart beat wildly with lust and panic in equal measure. But most of all it's an excellent distraction from the huge swarm of black vultures gathering over her head. If she hides out in her target's empty house on Mercy Close for long enough maybe they'll go away... But as Helen begins to unravel the mysteries secreted on Mercy Close she discovers a kindred spirit in a man unwilling to be found. Could someone be telling her to look a little closer to home...?

City Guide New York is a comprehensive guidebook to one of North America's most exciting destinations. Full-color photography combines with the lively text to help you discover the real Big Apple. Forget all the crowds at the regular sights and explore New York like a New Yorker, in the delis, local bars, and small theaters that give this city its energy. With more than 48.7 million visitors in 2010 (source: www.nytimes.com), a number that is only expected to grow, New York is the hippest destination on the East Coast. Our inspirational Insight recommends section outlines top attractions and activities not to miss, while features by local writers cover a range of subjects — including the best places to grab a hotdog or watch the famous subway series between the Yankees and the Mets. Thirteen Places chapters cover the entire city, giving you the detailed information you need to plan your perfect trip. Evocative accounts of the city's history and culture combine with lively descriptions of the best neighborhoods, all illustrated with vivid photography. Color maps, plus floorplans of all the major museums, help you navigate with ease, the Travel Tips provide practical information and our independent listings for the best places to stay and eat.

Just how did Roald Dahl get into writing? Where did he get his ideas from? What ingredients in his life turned him into the kind of writer he was? This title provides answers to these questions. It includes stories and anecdotes from Roald Dahl's school days and family life.