The News is Alain de Botton`s witty & insightful exploration of our twenty-first century obsession with media. Why do we keep checking the news? Today, the news occupies the same dominant position in our lives as religion once did. But rarely do we consider how it touches us. Here, Alain de Botton examines a number of archetypal news stories
- a plane crash, a murder, a political scandal, a celebrity interview
- from a fresh perspective to ask intriguing questions: why do disaster stories titillate? why obsess over love lives of the famous? why smile when a politician falls from grace? In so doing, he brings clear sight & understanding to a force which, above all others, informs our view of reality. ” Like all classic de Botton, there are plenty of insightful observations here, peppered with some psychology, a dash of philosophy, a big dollop of commonsense.” (Scotsman). ” De Botton`s gift is to prompt us to think about how we live & how we might change things.” (The Times). ” De Botton analyses modern society with great charm, learning & humour. His remedies come as a welcome relief when most books offering solutions to the stresses of life recommend the lotus position.” (Daily Mail). Alain de Botton`s bestselling books include Religion for Atheists, How Proust Can Change Your Life, The Art of Travel, The Pleasures & Sorrows of Work & The Architecture of Happiness. He lives in London & founded The School of Life, & Living Architecture.

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` This would soon be a new day, all too closely resembling the others, the normal days of his present existence, in which nothing happened nor could be expected to happen` At seventy-three Herz is facing an increasingly bewildering world. He cannot see his place in it or even work out what to do with his final years. Questions & misunderstandings haunt Herz like old ghosts. Should he travel, sell his flat, or propose marriage to an old friend he has not seen in thirty years? Herz believes that he must do something, only he doesn`t know what this next big thing in life should be.. .` Beautifully written, it draws you in & holds you fast` Daily Mail ...

Paris, 1774. Commissioner Le Floch`s stormy love affair with socialite Julie de Lasterieux has run its course but before Nicolas can formally end the relationship, Julie is found murdered in her bed, a victim of poisoning. For now, he retains the confidence of even the King, who sends him on a secret intelligence mission. But a plot is afoot to implicate Nicolas in Julie`s death, & he is soon fighting to uncover the perpetrators & clear his name. ...

Here is a book no Christmas stocking should be without, a book that positively distils the spirit of the season. The title poem, familiar to children & adults the world over, introduces a collection of stories & verse with a Christmas theme, guaranteed to engage & amuse readers young & old. Likely to provoke laughter & sometimes to bring a sentimental tear to the driest eye, this festive treasure trove is ideal for reading aloud or curling up with in a comfy corner. Scrooge himself would have found it difficult to resist distributing copies on Christmas morning! ...

In The Children of the New Forest, Cavalier & Roundhead battle it out in the turbulent setting of the English Civil war & provide the background for this classic tale of four orphans as they face adversity, survival in the forest, reconciliation & eventual forgiveness. This is the first enduring historical novel for children, which conjures up as much magic today as it did on first publication. The freedom from adult constraint allied with the necessary disciplines to survive in a hostile world make for a gripping read. ...

Gogol`s classic, uproarious folktale, presented in a beautiful hardcover edition perfect for giving as a gift. Written in 1831, this dark tale relates the adventures of Vakula, the blacksmith, in his fight against the devil, who has stolen the moon above the village of Dikanka & is wreaking havoc on its inhabitants, all to win the love of the most beautiful girl in town. The basis for many film & opera adaptations, & still a story traditionally read aloud to children on Christmas Eve in Ukraine & Russia, The Night Before Christmas is the best holiday tale by the man whom Vladimir Nabokov called `the greatest writer Russia has yet produced`. Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852) was the son of a Ukrainian gentleman farmer. He attended a variety of boarding schools, where he proved an indifferent student but was admired for his theatrical abilities. In 1828 he moved to St. Petersburg & began to publish stories, & by the mid-1830s he had established himself in the literary world & been warmly praised by Pushkin. In 1836, his play The Inspector-General was attacked as immoral, & he left Russia, remaining abroad for most of the next dozen years. During that time he wrote two of his best-known stories, ` The Nose` & ` The Overcoat, ` & in 1842 he published the first section of his masterpiece Dead Souls. Gogol became increasingly religious as the years passed, & in 1847 he became the disciple of an Orthodox priest who influenced him to burn the second part of Dead Souls & then abandon writing altogether. After undertaking an extreme fast, he died at the age of forty-two. ...

This elegant cut-paper edition of the celebrated Christmas poem evokes the snowy magic of the season through moonlit silhouettes. With the turn of each page the scenes transform to reveal the fine details & surprises of a festive family home. Open up the house to see the characters within, peer through the doors & windows to catch a glimpse of St Nick`s arrival & witness the spectacular pop-up finale. All the excitement & anticipation of Christmas Eve is captured here, making this a book to delight in & to treasure. ...

Exquisite silhouettes & a spectacular pop-up finale bring this popular Christmas poem magically to life. This elegant cut-paper edition of the celebrated Christmas poem evokes the snowy magic of the season through moonlit silhouettes. With the turn of each page the scenes transform to reveal the fine details & surprises of a festive family home. Open up the house to see the characters within, peer through the doors & windows to catch a glimpse of St Nick`s arrival & witness the spectacular pop-up, laser-cut finale. All the excitement & anticipation of Christmas Eve is captured here, making this a book to delight in & to treasure. It boasts exquisite illustrations, die-cut holes that transform the pages throughout & an amazingly intricate laser-cut scene showing St Nicholas & his reindeer in the sky. Stylish jacket design & gold printing make this opulent novelty book the ultimate Christmas gift! ...

Revel in the thrill & excitement of Christmas eve & Clement C. Moore`s timeless poem with this lavish edition of the well-loved classic. Feel the warmth of the house & the tingle of anticipation as Robert Ingpen`s award-winning illustrations bring the story of the most magical time of year to life. ...

A brilliantly funny Christmas picture book from the bestselling author of Oi Frog!` Twas the night before the night before Christmas (That`s Christmas Eve Eve). & Santa was wiping his brow on his sleeve. Green elves were sewing, Blue elves were counting, Red elves were carving, The pressure was mounting! It`s the day before Christmas Eve & Santa is ever so busy.. . he`s got presents to wrap, reindeer to wake & a sleigh to start. But has he forgotten something? &, more importantly, will he be ready in time? Inspired by Clement C. Moore`s classic festive poem, this hilarious, rhyming picture book is sure to have you ho ho ho-ing! ...