The Baltic region is frequently neglected in broader histories of Europe & its international significance can be obscured by separate treatments of the various Baltic states. With this wide-ranging 2011 survey, Andrejs Plakans presents an integrated history of three Baltic peoples
- Estonians, Latvians & Lithuanians
- & draws out the common threads to show how it has been shaped by their location in a strategically desirable corner of Europe. Subordinated in turn by Baltic German landholders, the Polish nobility & gentry, & then by Russian & Soviet administrators, the three nations have nevertheless kept their distinctive identities
- significantly retaining three separate languages in an ethnically diverse region. The book traces the countries` evolution from their ninth-century tribal beginnings to their present status as three thriving & separate nation states, focusing particularly on the region`s complex twentieth-century history, which culminated in the eventual re-establishment of national sovereignty after 1991.


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This beautifully illustrated pocket field guide is packed with information on the marvellous variety of insects that inhabits Britain & the near Continent. It

Includes:: more than 180 species, including dragonflies, bees, wasps, beetles, bugs & flies, all of which are illustrated with superb full-colour artworks. A concise written account covering size, description, habitat, distribution, foodplants & habits appears on the same page as the illustrations for each species. The easy-to-follow layouts & superb artworks aid quick & accurate identification, & make this book an indispensable reference in the field as well as at home. It is compact enough to fit in the pocket, yet packed with essential information for the nature enthusiast. To protect it against the elements in the field, the book is wrapped in a durable plastic wallet. Also included is a fold-out insert with at-a-glance illustrations showing comparisons between similar species.

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This beautifully illustrated mini field guide is packed with information on 200 species of fungi found in Britain & the near Continent. The range covered demonstrates the incredible variety that exists within the world of fungi, from the better-known groups such as the boletes & russulas, to more esoteric & often strangely shaped types like bracket fungi, clubs, corals, puffballs, stinkhorns & elfcups. All the species are illustrated with superb full-colour artworks that show
- where relevant
- characteristics of shape & other aspects of appearance that change during their lives. A concise written account covers size, description, habitat & the season in which each fungus may be found. The easy-to-follow layouts & superb artworks aid quick & accurate identification, making this book an indispensable reference in the field as well as at home. It is compact enough to fit in the pocket, yet packed with essential information for the nature enthusiast. To protect it against the elements in the field, this book is wrapped in a durable plastic wallet. It also

Includes:: a foldout insert with at-a-glance illustrations showing comparisons between similar-looking fungi.



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The seashore is unlike any terrestial habitat, & the plants & animals that occur on it are usually very different in form from their l&-based relatives. This beautifully illustrated mini field guide is packed with information on nearly 180 species that live in the area between land & sea called the intertidal, or littoral, zone. It

Includes:: all the most common molluscs, crustaceans, seaweeds, fishes, spiny creatures such as starfishes & sea urchins, mammals & many other species found here, & is invaluable for anyone wanting to find out more about the fascinating shells & other objects they may pick up on our shores. All the species are illustrated with superb full-colour artworks, & a concise written account for each covers data such as size, general description, habitat, ecology, & distribution in Britain & the near Continent. The easy-to-follow layouts & superb artworks aid quick & accurate identification, making this book an indispensable reference in the field as well as at home. It is compact enough to fit in the pocket, yet packed with essential information for the nature enthusiast. To protect it against the elements in the field, this book is wrapped in a durable plastic wallet. Also included is a foldout insert with at-a-glance illustrations showing comparisons between similar-looking species.

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This beautifully illustrated pocket field guide is packed with information on the trees of Britain & the near Continent. It covers more than 160 species, all of which are illustrated with superb full-colour artworks that show details of mature trees, leaves, growth patterns & other interesting features. A concise written account covering size, description, habitat, distribution & habits appears on the same page as the illustrations for each species. The easy-to-follow layouts & superb artworks help in accurate identification, making this book an invaluable reference source. It is compact enough to fit in the pocket, yet packed with essential information for the natural history enthusiast. To protect it against the elements in the field, the book is wrapped in a durable plastic wallet. A fold-out insert with at-a-glance pictures showing comparisons between trees helps quick & easy identification of various species. It is suitable for wildlife enthusiasts wanting to identify trees in Britain & other parts of northern Europe; people who want a portable yet authoritative tree book to take on nature walks or to keep in their home or car; &, both adults & children
- part of the ultimate collectable nature book series.
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This beautifully illustrated mini field guide is packed with information on the most common wild flowers of Britain & the near Continent. It covers more than 180 species, all of which are illustrated with superb full-colour artworks that show details of the flowers, leaves & growth habit of the plant. A concise written account covering size, description, habitat, flowering time, distribution & habits appears on the same page. The easy-to-follow layouts & superb artworks aid quick & accurate identification, & make this book an indispensable reference in the field as well as at home. It is compact enough to fit in the pocket, yet packed with essential information for the nature enthusiast. To protect it against the elements in the field, the book is wrapped in a durable plastic wallet. Also included is a foldout insert with at-a-glance illustrations showing flowers grouped by colour. It is suitable for wildlife enthusiasts wanting to identify flowers in Britain & other parts of northern Europe, & people who want a portable yet authoritative wild-flower book to take on nature walks or to keep in their home or car. Suitable for both adults & children, it is part of the ultimate collectable nature book series. ...

A detailed look at our world today, fully updated & revised. From the defining boundaries of the Balkan states to the icy terrain of Antarctica, over 640 maps created with the latest digital mapping techniques & satellite data are combined in Concise World Atlas to bring you Earth in more detail than ever before. Terrain models reveal physical features, while informative text, photographs & diagrams provide a superb overview of the physical, political, economic & demographic geography of the world. Peruse detailed fact files on all 196 nations, including each region's land use, industrial activities & population distribution. Plus an 80, 000 entry index makes the Concise World Atlas an essential desktop reference for business, home or school use. ...

The Concise World Atlas of Wine contains both the full text & the 200 maps that are the core appeal of the original, larger format wine atlas by Hugh Johnson & Jancis Robinson, only in an easier to handle & transport version. Aimed at wine enthusiasts & connoisseurs The Concise World Atlas of Wine combines essential, well researched information on wines of the world, written by the authoritative Johnson & Robinson, with clear & detailed up-to-date maps for each significant wine growing area. ...

The Pope is dead. Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, one hundred & eighteen cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world`s most secretive election. They are holy men. But they have ambition. & they have rivals. Over the next seventy-two hours one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on earth. ...

The Pope is dead. Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, one hundred & eighteen cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world`s most secretive election. They are holy men. But they have ambition. & they have rivals. Over the next seventy-two hours one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on earth. ...