” It is a shameful thing to win a war.” The reliably unorthodox Curzio Malaparte`s own service as an Italian liaison officer with the Allies during the invasion of Italy was the basis for this searing & surreal novel, in which the contradictions inherent in any attempt to simultaneously conquer & liberate a people beset the triumphant but ingenuous American forces as they make their way up the peninsula. Malaparte`s account begins in occupied Naples, where veterans of the disbanded & humiliated Italian army beg for work, & ceremonial dinners for high Allied officers or important politicians feature the last remaining sea creatures in the city`s famous aquarium. He leads the American Fifth Army along the Via Appia Antica into Rome, where the celebrations of a vast, joy-maddened crowd are only temporarily interrupted when one well-wisher slips beneath the tread of a Sherman tank. As the Allied advance continues north to Florence & Milan, the civil war intensifies, provoking in the author equal abhorrence for killing fellow Italians & for the ”heroes of tomorrow, ” those who will come out of hiding to shout ” Long live liberty” as soon as the Germans are chased away. Like Celine, another anarchic satirist & disillusioned veteran of two world wars, Malaparte paints his compatriots as in a fun-house mirror that yet speaks the truth, creating terrifying, grotesque, & often darkly comic scenes that will not soon be forgotten. Unlike the French writer however, he does so in the characteristically sophisticated, lush, yet unsentimental prose that was as responsible for his fame as was his surprising political trajectory. The Skin was condemned by the Roman Catholic Church, & placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum. ...

The explosive story of the poisoning of Sergei Skripal & the new spy war between the West & Russia, based on hours of exclusive interviews Skripal gave before his near-death with number one bestselling author Mark Urban, diplomatic & defence editor for BBC Newsnight.` With regard to traitors, they will kick the bucket on their own, I assure you... Whatever thirty pieces of silver those people may have gotten, they will stick in their throat.` Vladimir Putin, 20104 March 2018, Salisbury, Engl&. Sergei Skripal & his daughter Yulia were enjoying a rare & peaceful Sunday spent together, completely unaware that they had been poisoned with the deadly nerve agent Novichok. Hours later both were found slumped on a park bench close to death. Following their attempted murders on British soil, Russia was publicly accused by the West of carrying out the attack, marking a new low for international relations between the two since the end of the Cold War. The Skripal Files is the definitive account of how Skripal`s story fits into the wider context of the new spy war between Russia & the West. The book explores the time Skripal spent as a spy in the Russian military intelligence, how he was turned to work as an agent by MI6, his imprisonment in Russia & his eventual release as part of a spy-swap that would bring him to Salisbury where, on that fateful day, he & his daughter found themselves fighting for their lives. ...

Wintercroft masks have caught the imagination of creative people & festival-goers around the globe. Designed by Steve Wintercroft, an artist with a passion for craftsmanship & conservation, these masks have been used everywhere from music videos & fashion shoots to theatre productions & political campaigns. The Skull is one of humanity`s most powerful symbols & is often adopted as an icon of courage or rebellion. Whether you`re looking for an icon of free thinking, want an edgy Halloween costume or an eye-catching accessory for your festival trip this summer, this mask is the perfect choice. With a robust polygon design, the mask is easy to put together with press-out templates & simple numbered tabs. Eye-catchingly illustrated, you can choose to wear the mask as it is or customise with the included Day of the Dead embellishments
- let your imagination run wild!
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The sky is a never-ending source of inspiration for artists, poets, & anyone who has found peace in contemplating clouds or a colourful sunset. Whether viewed from below or from above
- with the help of satellite images
- the pictures in this new addition to White Star's popular Cubebooks series convey the many faces of the sky. Colourful images capture the violent force of tempestuous storms as well as the glorious sunrises, sunsets, & northern lights that are reflections of nature's gentler side. Readers view the sky in horizons that frame both the most beautiful natural parks & landscapes in the world & the skylines of the world's most sophisticated cities. Spectacular views of flocks of migratory birds pose a fascinating contrast to images of people flying in extreme sports such as paragliding, sky-diving or through the impressive manoeuvres of acrobatic air squads. Throughout the book, insightful captions provide fascinating facts about meteorological phenomena & other heavenly titbits. With its stunning full-page spreads, the Cubebook format is ideal for showcasing sweeping cloud formations, dramatic weather patterns, & vast expanses of deep, pure blue sky. Accessible & delightfully tactile. The Sky Cubebook will appeal to readers of all ages.

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The wellspring of “ The Sky Above, the Kingdom Below” is the remarkable 17th century figure, Thomas Coryate, unofficial jester to the court of King James I, associate of John Donne, Ben Johnson & Inigo Jones, & the original Jacobean grumpy old man. Long forgotten by history at large, he is now regaining well-derserved public recognition as an eccentric wit, an idiosyncratic writer &, above all, a pioneering traveller. He was neither a diplomat nor a merchant & did not live to see any profit from the written records of his travels. In 2004 nearly four hundred years later, Daniel Allen set out on a bicycle to retrace the path of Coryate’s final journey from Turkey to Northern India. It is a journey where everything upon the route has changed & yet somehow remained the same. Amongst the extremities of the terrain, he finds individual instances of generosity & human kindness that reflect back across the centuries to Coryate’s original journey. ...

Celebrating the 55th anniversary of The Sky at Night, this book collects & answers questions sent in by viewers. With sections on the solar system, the bizarre & unexplained, space missions, & more, this is an exciting journey into space for the novice astronomer & the lifelong stargazer alike. Discover how scientists work out the gravity of planets, what the ` Great Attractor` is & the basic principles of space navigation. Learn how to start observing the sky, what event inspired Patrick Moore to take up astronomy, & just how many of his cats are named after celestial bodies. From comets to black holes & Orion to eclipses, The Sky at Night is the ultimate introduction to the wonders & mysteries of the universe. ...

The Solar System – so what is it? We`ve all learned the basics at school but how much can you remember? Expert astronomers & co-presenters of The Sky at Night Chris North & Paul Abel take a fascinating guided tour of our Solar System & explain its wonders. They look at all the major players, including our more familiar neighbours – the Sun, the planets & their moons – the occasional visitors to our planet – asteroids, meteors & comets – as well as distant stars & what might be beyond our Solar System – Earth Mark II? Chris & Paul recount the history of how everything came about & the myths that once shaped astronomy. They explain the latest science & discoveries, & reveal how any amateur astronomer can view & interpret the Solar System. ...

For fans of John Green, David Levithan & Rainbow Rowell, a novel from Jandy Nelson, the bestselling & award-winning author of I`ll Give You the Sun. Beautiful, funny & heartfelt, The Sky Is Everywhere is about love & forgiveness. Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker spends her time tucked safely & happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to centre stage of her own life
- & suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two boys. One boy takes Lennie out of her sorrow; the other comforts her in it. But the two can`t collide without Lennie`s world exploding...
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Peru, 1904. Jose Galvez & Carlos Rodriguez are poets. Or, at least, they`d like to be. Sons of Lima`s elite in the early twentieth century, they scribble bad verses & read all the greats, especially their idol Juan Ramon Jimenez, the Spanish Maestro. Desperate for Jimenez`s latest work, unavailable in Lima, they decide to ask him for a copy. Convinced Jimenez won`t send two dilettantes his book, but he might favour a beautiful young woman, they write to him as the lovely, imaginary Georgina Hubner. Jimenez responds with a letter & a signed copy. Elated, & now the talk of their literary circle, Jose & Carlos write back. Their correspondence continues as the Maestro falls in love with Georgina, & the boys abandon poetry for the pages of Jimenez`s life. Set against the vibrant backdrop of bohemian taverns & social unrest in Peru at the turn of the century, The Sky Over Lima is being hailed as the most assured & inventive literary novel to come out of Spain in years. ...

The perfect introduction for the novice astronomer, this book stirs the imagination & puts observation in a framework of social activity & personal adventure. Written by an award-winning amateur astronomer & columnist, it is a technical guide to the sky, full of helpful practical hints. The lively & fresh style of the author will engage, entertain, & inform the reader. Newcomers will learn how to enjoy the Moon, planets, comets, meteors, & distant galaxies observable through a small telescope. For instance, author Levy describes the features of the Moon from night to night; how to observe constellations in both Northern & Southern hemispheres; how best to view the stars, nebulae, & galaxies; how to follow the planets on their annual trek among the constellations; how to map the sky; how to find a new comet; how to buy or even make a telescope; what to see in a month of lunar observations or a year of stellar observation; & much more. Beginners who have just joined an astronomy club or amateurs who wish to learn more about what can be accomplished with a small telescope will not find a better first book. ...