This beautifully illustrated collection contains all of Charles Dickens` novels retold for young readers, including Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities & A Christmas Carol. There are notes on the characters "ations from the original text, plus links to websites to find out more about Charles Dickens` life & times. ...

Pass your driving test with ease with this comprehensive guide that gives learner drivers the essential information they need to pass both the Theory Test & Practical Test first time. The Complete Test features all the latest official theory test questions for car drivers (valid until September 2011), hundreds of practical test questions set by experts from the AA Driving School & the latest edition of the Highway Code
- essential reading for all road users. The Complete Test`s clear & concise layout makes it easy to revise & is a must buy for anyone learning to drive.
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From Antigua to New Zealand discover the flags of the world with this complete guide published in association with the Flag Institute. Travel to each country of the world using the small-scale map & find out about over 300 national, international, official & provincial flags from across the globe. Each national flag is covered: detailed notes & annotations will tell you all about its history, design development, the significance of colours, symbols, crests & coats of arms & any recent changes. Updates include new flags for Montenegro, Kosovo & Lesotho. It also features flags of major international organizations plus key flags in world history. ...

Whether you are budding vexillophile or an already well informed member a University Challenge team, this new edition, updated in 2014, of Complete Flags of the World is a treasure trove. You can learn all about flags from around the world
- from the meaning behind country flags, national flags, world flags, state flags & naval flags to the meanings of flag symbols. Spanning geography, communications, politics, sport, history, culture, design & art, this is the ultimate book of flags, covering over 400 flags & flag history, explaining the widespread use & significance of flags & flag design. Each national flag is covered: detailed notes & annotations will tell you all about its history, design development, the significance of colours, symbols, crests & coats of arms & any recent changes. Click on our sample image & see how many of the examples you already know (a clue: they all are from Europe)
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A photographic field guide to 1, 500 species of insects found in Britain & Ireland A photographic field guide to all the common & some unusual species of insects across Britain that the keen amateur naturalist is likely to spot. Over 1, 500 species are illustrated with detailed photographs chosen for their help in identification. *

Includes:: photographs of larvae * Each section is coded with a symbol for easy reference * Differences between similar species are highlighted to avoid confusion * Information given on when to look & where to find each species Insect groups dealt with include butterflies & moths, mayflies, dragonflies, damselflies, grasshoppers, crickets, earwigs, lacewings, bugs, bees, wasps, ants & beetles, all with keys to ensure accurate identification.

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This is a comprehensive, full-colour manual providing a complete reference for climbers of every level & discipline. It covers all the skills, safety issues & equipment necessary for the key climbing disciplines: mountains, bouldering & climbing walls, summer climbing, winter climbing, big wall & expedition climbing. This exciting book is extensively illustrated throughout, with practical diagrams as well as inspirational & instructive photographs covering everything from the basic saftey, equipment & techniques to advanced-level mountaineering on some of the world`s toughest ascents. The basic skills

Includes:: fundamental information on the necessary technical equipment, from harness, rock boots & ropes to slings, karabiners & belay devices. There is a detailed section on different types of knots with clear diagrams to exemplify each. The technical skills section gives comprehensive information on abseiling with diagrams & photographs, plus various emergency procedures that all climbers & mountaineers should know. The natural ability to climb is in all of us, it is getting it out on to the surface & refining it into a useful skill that is the trick. Pete Hill explains how to move on rock with the various handholds, footholds & specific climbing techniques, he shows the attractions of bouldering, & the importance of chalk as part of a boulderer`s arsenal, & finally Pete discusses the various types of climbing walls. The summer section of the book details everything you need to know about traditional climbing, considered by many as the purest form of the sport, as well as sport climbing, & Via Ferratas which are well suited for families new to climbing. The Winter section covers avalanches, ice climbing & snow shelters, as well as step kicking, step cutting & crampon techniques. For the more advanced climbers & mountaineers, the Alpine Climbing, Big wall climbing & expedition sections of the book will provide you with ideas, equipment information, techniques, advice on how to overcome any problems & scenarios to get your adrenaline racing. The Appendices provides essential & useful information on the various climbing grades worldwide, as well as factors & forces. It is one of very few books on the market that is so comprehensive, internationally relevant & covers so many different types of climbing. It is written by Pete Hill (MIC, FRGS), an experienced & highly-regarded author & climbing instructor. Pete is author of the bestselling ` Mountain Skills Training Handbook` & ` The International Handbook of Technical Mountaineering`. He has led mountaineering expeditions to the Indian & Nepalese Himalaya, & was leader of an international expedition to Kashmir which made the first ascents of three previously unclimbed peaks.

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If you are one of the 20 million people thinking of taking a cruise this year, this best-selling book, the cruise industry bible, will tell you everything you need to know to pick the right cruise for you. Updated annually, the 700-page book is divided into two main parts: the first helps you define what you are looking for in a cruise holiday & advises you on how to find it. It provides a wealth of factual information as well as a real insight into life aboard ship & how to get the best from it. Specialist cruises are discussed, too, culminating with that ultimate travel experience: the around-the-world cruise. This unrivalled detail is complemented by a vast number of tables & checklists, colour photographs & maps. The second section contains detailed information on almost 300 ocean-going cruise vessels & evaluates them using an internationally recognised ratings system. With more than 40 years of experience & spending some 200 days a year aboard cruise ships, the author Douglas Ward evaluates their facilities, inspecting each ship in exhaustive detail. Facilities count, of course but just as important are the standards of food, service, staff & hospitality. In his quest to bring you the truth about cruising, no stone is left unturned, from the fluffiness of the towels to the quality of the china, & from the welcome aboard to the disembarkation process. ...

Metal boats have the advantage of combining strength with lightness of weight, & the advent of affordable pre-cut steel & aluminium kits has now brought the building of these boats into the domain of the amateur. This book covers all the information you will need to successfully build, renovate, repair or maintain a steel or aluminium boat
- whether sail or power. Bruce Roberts-Goodson, one of the most experienced designers of small craft explains: why choose a metal boat, what tools & equipment you will need, different welding techniques for different metals, building from a pre-cut kit, building skegs, keels & pilot houses, how to select & install the correct engine for sail or power, & electrical systems, interiors & corrosion prevention. Packed with explanatory photographs & diagrams, the book also comes complete with a CD of over 1000 construction photos to inspire the reader.
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The essential photographic guide to Ireland`s wildlife. Collins Complete Irish Wildlife describes almost all the mammals, birds, fish & butterflies of Ireland likely to be encountered by the keen amateur naturalist, as well as all the common & widespread flowers, trees & shrubs. With over 1, 000 colour photographs, this comprehensive guide illustrates every species described. The introduction by Ireland`s best known wildlife expert, Derek Mooney, sets out where you can find the best of Irish wildlife. Reptiles & amphibians, insects & spiders, molluscs & other invertebrates are also featured, & species are organised taxonomically. Each section is coded with a symbol for quick reference & species are grouped according to natural relationships & similarities. Collins Complete Irish Wildlife is a book no nature lover should travel without. ...

Complete Mountain Biking Manual provides a comprehensive reference to this popular sport, which is coming of age after a period of explosive growth. The book is filled with expert insights & tips, & aims to answer all the questions a reader might have. The chapters cover the main branches of mountain biking (cross-country, endurance, downhill, time trials, single speed, tandem) & the bikes, equipment, clothing & accessories required for each. The chapter on maintenance & repairs covers basic maintenance routines (including safety checks), step-by-step repairs for the home workshop & emergency fixes for the trail. The section on riding techniques covers all types of surfaces & situations, &

Includes:: tips on mastering special skills such as bunny hops. A chapter on training

Includes:: basic strength training & stretching routines as well as detailed training programmes for a variety of competitive events & tips on race preparation & planning. The book also covers nutrition & safety procedures.



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