Montpellier in 1566-only fools walk the streets at night unarmed, while a profession of faith in the wrong company can lead to a knife in the back. Not even this proud city of philosophers is safe from the menaces that endanger the peace of France. The city militia are struggling to contend with the lawlessness & religious hatred that threaten to tear the whole country in two. Now an adult, Pierre de Siorac must travel south on dangerous roads to the great university town, accompanied by his strapping but naive brother Samson & the crafty Miroul. Well-armoured, with swords & pistols at their belts, the trio are confident of repelling any bandits who cross their path, but their new life away from the safety of their Perigord home will bring with it many new dangers & delights. Continuing the colourful story that began The Brethren, City of Wisdom & Blood is the second book in the sweeping saga, Fortunes of France. The Brethren is the first volume in the epic historical drama Fortunes of France-a lusty, exhilarating blend of adventure & romance set against the backdrop of a critical period in European history. ` Swashbuckling historical fiction... For all its philosophical depth [ The Brethren] is a hugely entertaining romp... The comparisons with Dumas seem both natural & deserved & the next 12 instalments [are] a thrilling prospect` Christobel Kent, Guardian `A vivid novel by France`s modern Dumas...[there is] plenty of evidence in the rich characterisation & vivid historical detail that a reader`s long-term commitment will be amply rewarded` Sunday Times ` The mainstay of the novel is swashbuckling action... What stands out is Merle`s eye for detail` Spectator ` We`re swept away by triumph, tragedy, action & adventure... It`s a novel like this that makes reviewing one of the best jobs in the world.` Bookbag, Five Star Review ` Cleverly depicts France`s epic religious wars through the intimate prism of one family`s experience. It`s beautifully written too. Metro. ` Historical fiction at its very best... This fast paced & heady brew is colourfully leavened with love & sex & a great deal of humour & wit. The second instalment cannot be published too soon` We Love This Book ` This is old-fashioned story-telling. It has swagger &, vibrancy with big characters...A gripping story with humour & strength & real attention to historical detail” Mature Times This enjoyable story has some of the wit of George Mac Donald Fraser`s ` Flashman`... Alexandre Dumas comes to mind too...[the remaining volumes] of this moving panorama are eagerly awaited` The Tablet `A lively adventures anyone keen on historical fiction [should] look forward to the next instalment` Telegraph `A master of the historical novel` Guardian ` The spectacular 13-volume evocation of 16th-17th-century France` Independent ` Merle`s novel offers a sympathetic & highly imaginative view of a fraught time in French history...filled with originality, humanity, & insight` New Welsh Review ` The Brethren very quickly wins one over` Glasgow Herald ` The Dumas of the twentieth century` Neues Deutschland `A wonderful, colourful, breathlessly narrated historical panorama` Zeitpunkt ...

The Perigord of sixteenth-century France is a wild region on the edge of the reaches of royal authority-its steep, forested valleys roamed by bands of brigands & gypsies, its communities divided by conflict between Catholics & converts to the new Protestant faith, the Huguenots. To this beautiful but dangerous country come two veterans of the French king`s wars, Jean de Siorac & Jean de Sauveterre, The Brethren-as fiercely loyal to the crown as they are to their Huguenot religion. They make their home in the formidable chateau of Mespech, & the community they found prospers, but they are far from secure-religious civil war looms on the horizon, famine & plague stalk the l&, & The Brethren must use all their wits to protect those they love from the chaos that threatens to sweep them away. The Brethren is the first volume in the epic historical drama Fortunes of France-a lusty, exhilarating blend of adventure & romance set against the backdrop of a critical period in European history. This revamped B-format edition is perfectly placed to capitalise on the success of the first edition last autumn. The sequel, City of Wisdom & Blood, will be published in September, while the third instalment in the series, Heretic Dawn, will follow in early 2016. ...

When on a whim Ginni Bazlinton signed up for a voyage to the planet`s fifth largest & coldest continent she did not know what to expect. An icy wilderness governed by no nation, where virtually the only natives are penguins & seals, Antarctica was a vast unknown to her when she set off with a few fellow travellers on the rugged scientific vessel the Akademik Shokalskiy. Discoveries came thick & fast: the sheer beauty & alarming extremes of the landscape & climate
- rocky voyages on dangerous seas
- & the unexpected company of amazing wildlife from the legendary albatross, to huge whales, lazy seals & friendly penguins. As she learns more about the history of exploring the region, the science undertaken there & the extraordinary varied landscapes of vast mountains, rolling icebergs & sunken volcanoes childlike joy & peace gives way to deeper contemplation. For this grandmother `from next door` her first hand encounter with a region unknown to many becomes the gateway to a profound fascination with the miracle that is Antarctica & a keener understanding of the wonder of the world itself & humanity`s ambiguous role within it.

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This collection of pithy, brilliantly acerbic pieces is a companion to Sixty Stories, Barthelme`s earlier retrospective volume. Barthelme spotlights the idiosyncratic, haughty, sometimes downright ludicrous behavior of human beings, but it is style rather than content which takes precedence. ...

When journalist Paddy Agnew & his girlfriend Dympna touched down in Rome in 1985 in search of adventure, sunshine & the soul of Italian football (well, Paddy was looking for that), they were travelling into the uncharted terrain of a country they did not know & a language they did not speak. It soon became clear that neither Italy nor Italian football would be boring. In that first week in Italy, Michel Platini & Juventus won the Intercontinental Cup, whilst just days later the PLO killed 13 people in a random shooting at Rome`s Fiumicino airport. Paddy covered both stories. The coming years saw the rise of TV tycoon Silvio Berlusconi, as he became owner of AC Milan & then Prime Minister of Italy, naming his political party ` Forza Italia` after a football chant. In that same period, Argentine Diego Maradona became the uncrowned King of Naples, leading Napoli to a first ever Scudetto title in 1987, notwithstanding a hectic, Hollywood-esque lifestyle that mixed footballing genius with off-the-field excess.” Forza Italia” is a fascinating tale of inspired players, skilled coaches, rich tycoons, glitzy media coverage, Mafia corruption, allegations of drug taking & fan power
- culminating in the 2006 World Cup victory that delighted a nation & a match-fixing scandal that shocked the world. It is also a personalised reflection on the consistent & continuing excellence of Italian football throughout a period of huge social, political & economic upheaval, offering a unique insight into a society where football has always been much more than just a game.
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Fossils have been vital to our understanding of the formation of the earth & the origins of all life on it. However, their impact has not been limited to debates about geology & evolution: attempts to explain their existence has shaken religion at its very roots, & they have remained a subject of ceaseless fascination for people of all ages & backgrounds. In this delightful book, Keith Thomson provides a remarkably all-encompassing explanation of fossils as a phenomenon. How did Darwin use fossils to support his theory of evolution? What are `living fossils`? What fossils will we leave behind for future generations to examine? Building on the scientific aspects, he places fossils in a very human context, highlighting their impact on philosophy & mythology, our concept of time, & today`s popular culture. What quickly becomes obvious is that the discovery of fossils & the ways in which they have been interpreted over time makes for fascinating reading. From the black market to the Piltdown Man, & from mythological dragons to living dinosaurs, fossils hold a permanent place in the popular imagination. ...

This is a new edition of the clearest, most authoritative guide to fossils. Packed with more than 1, 000 amazing photographs of over 500 species, this handbook is designed to cut through the complicated identification process & enable you to recognize species instantly. It covers everything from what a fossil is, how they are classified to how to start a collection. Perfect for fossil lovers
- this is a comprehensive guide for collectors.
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This title offers a new, reformatted & updated edition of this popular title which is suitable for experts & armchair enthusiasts alike. ” Fossils: A Photographic Field Guide” will appeal to anyone interested in uncovering the many mysteries of the subject. Easy to use, highly informative & illustrated throughout with amazing colour photographs, this title covers all classifications of fossils, with more than 190 fossils from around the world featured. Information given for each fossil

Includes:: its genus name, the main identifying characteristics of the genus, its maximum or average size, information about its occurrence, & general information pertaining to either the genus or the particular specimen featured. A quick reference guide to the geological range of each genus is also included in the form of an icon, which sits beside each genus name. Box features are peppered throughout the book, providing information on a number of topics relevant to a featured fossil`s family or order. A geological timescale is also provided, to help the reader to gain a sense of temporal perspective, & also to complete the identification process. An easy-to-use, clear recognition guide, this book cuts through the complexities of fossil identification, making the process straightforward & simple.

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The Fotomate VT-2900 is an excellent semi-professional standard tripod for video cameras & DSLR’s, as well as for spotting scopes, small telescopes & most large observation binoculars. Features a generous maximum payload capacity of 8kg, excellent stability & a maximum height of 177cm when the 3-section aluminium legs & geared centre column are fully extended. The superb included extra heavy-duty 2-Way tripod head, which is the same as supplied with the Fotomate VT-680-222R model, is extremely robust & well-engineered. Operation is extremely smooth & well damped, & can be panned 360° with a wide range of tilt adjustment. Supplied with nylon carrying case. ...

The Fotomate VT-6006 heavy-duty tripod is suitable for video cameras, DSLR’s & compact digital cameras, as well as for spotting scopes up to 100mm & many binoculars up to 100mm in diameter. Features a highly respectable maximum payload capacity of 6kg & a maximum height of 172cm when the 3-section aluminium legs & geared centre column are fully extended. The 2-Way tripod head is smooth in operation & can be panned 360° with a wide range of tilt adjustment. Supplied with nylon carrying case. ...