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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Map No. 10094, Fosen, in the new topographic survey of Norway at 1:50, 000 covering the country on 195 double-sided sheets & first published by Nordeca in 2011
- 2012; fully GPS compatible, indicating waymarked footpaths, campsites, tourist huts, illuminated ski runs, etc. The maps, now published by Nordeca, the successors to Statens Kartverk & its subsequent owners the Ugland Group, are printed on light, waterproof & tear-resistant synthetic paper. Each map covers an area of 62x 45 kilometres (39 x 28 miles approx.), with a 2-km overlap between the sheets. The maps have contours at 20m intervals (10m glacier contours), plus colouring & graphics to show cultivated areas, bogs, forests, etc. In addition to all the information expected of topographic mapping at this scale the maps distinguish between waymarked & unmarked footpaths & show campsites, tourist huts (serviced/self service/no supplies), country hotels & restaurants, & illuminated ski trails. The series uses EUREF89 (WGS84) datum & the maps have a 1-km UTM grid. Map legend is in Norwegian & English. Each title comes in a sturdy protective card envelope.
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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. ...

The Fotomate VT-680-222R is an excellent, 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 & an impressive maximum height of 197cm. This tripod does not feature a geared centre column so the tripod offers greater rigidity & stability, & lends itself to carrying heavier equipment. The superb included extra heavy-duty 2-Way tripod head, which is the same as supplied with the Fotomate VT-2900 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. ...