Alan Querry, a successful property developer from the north of Engl&, has two daughters: Vanessa, a philosopher who lives & teaches in Saratoga Springs, NY, & Helen, a record company executive based in London. The sisters never quite recovered from their parents` bitter divorce & the early death of their mother, with Vanessa particularly affected, & plagued by bouts of depression since her teenage years. When she suffers a new crisis, Alan & Helen travel to Saratoga Springs. Over the course of six wintry days in upstate New York, the Querry family begins to struggle with the questions that animate this profound & searching novel: Why do some people find living so much harder than others? Is happiness a skill that can be learned, or a lucky accident of birth? Is reflection helpful to happiness or an obstacle to it? If, as a favourite philosopher of Vanessa`s puts it, `the only serious enterprise is living`, how should we live? Rich in subtle human insight, full of poignant & often funny portraits, & vivid with a sense of place, Upstate is a perceptive, intensely moving novel. ...

Upton, Plashet & Forest Gate in 1867 in a fascinating series of reproductions of old Ordnance Survey plans in the Alan Godfrey Editions, ideal for anyone interested in the history of their neighbourhood or family. Two versions of this map have been published to show how the area developed across the years, as reflected by the change of the title. The maps cover an area stretching from Fairland Road & West Ham Park eastward to Woodgrange Park Cemetery, & from the GER railway southward to Plashet Road. The 1867 map shows a very rural area, principal features include Ham House & Ham Park, Plashet House, Plashet Hall, Pawnbrokers Almshouses, Woodgrange, & some development around Forest Lane. Country lanes such as Gipsy Lane & Red Post Lane link Plashet with the Romford Road. Each map has selected extracts from a contemporary street directory. About the Alan Godfrey Editions of the 25” OS Series: Selected towns in Great Britain & Ireland are covered by maps showing the extent of urban development in the last decades of the 19th & early 20th century. The plans have been taken from the Ordnance Survey mapping & reprinted at about 15 inches to one mile (1:4, 340). On the reverse most maps have historical notes & many also include extracts from contemporary directories. Most maps cover about one mile (1.6kms) north/south, one & a half miles (2.4kms) across; adjoining sheets can be combined to provide wider coverage.FOR MORE INFORMATION & A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL AVAILABLE TITLES PLEASE CLICK ON THE SERIES LINK. ...

Welcome to a fantastic world populated by lonely dragons, adventuresome boys, magical elves, & a host of other beloved characters who have lived on for centuries in the traditional tales of Japan. Drawn from folklore passed down from generation to generation, the ten enchanting stories collected in this Japanese book for children have been lovingly retold just for today`s readers. Vibrantly illustrated in full colour & packed with thrilling adventures, funny discoveries, & important lessons, they`re sure to become story time favourites & serve as an introduction to Japan & its culture. Included are some of Japan`s best-loved stories: Urashima Taro The Fairy Crane The Dragon`s Tears The Sandal-Seller The Robe of Feathers The Old Man with a Wen The Flying Farmer The Magic Mortar The Biggest in the World Why the Red Elf Cried. Readers of any age will find much to love & return to time & again in Urashima Taro & Other Japanese Children`s favourite Stories. These traditional tales, although entertaining, provide kids with a great introduction to Japan & its culture, & is the answer to anyone searching for traditional Japanese books for children to add to their home library. ...

Travel the cities of the world alongside some of their oldest citizens, exploring the trees of Buenos Aires to Berlin, San Francisco to Sydney, in this visually stunning, modern glossary of our city trees. Through finding a Kentucky yellowwood in Hannover, the 1, 000-year-old olive trees in Athens or even the world`s tallest trees that line the West Coast of North America, we come to learn the hidden histories of places that are wrapped up in these botanical giants. Brought to life by beautiful artwork, Urban Arboreal is an ode to urban trees & the cherished place they hold in the hearts of city dwellers
- not least because they are vital to the very air we breathe.
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The city of Bangkok is a destination that represents many things to many people, both residents & visitors alike. To Thais, Bangkok may be the cultural & religious hub of their 70 million-strong nation, or perhaps it`s the glowing lights of opportunity for those from the country`s hinterlands, determined to better their lot. To visitors from other lands (10 million or more annually) Bangkok may be a colourful & photogenic vacation stopover, a place to chill & party, or an opportunity to shop, to seek renewal in its famed spas, to sample the world-renowned cuisine-or all of the above But Bangkok is a complex city, with multiple & often confounding facets, moreover one that seems to be in constant flux. For the foreign visitor, or even long time residents, capturing & understanding the essence of the city can seem elusive, even impossible. Photographer Joakim Leroy has dedicated years to produce a compelling portrait of contemporary Bangkok. Leroy distills the glittering gold of temple spires, the colourful shops & streets, the flashing neon lights, into sometimes poignant, sometimes dramatic monochromes, & thereby approaches the very heart & soul of this great metropolis & its charming inhabitants. ...

The Urban Gridded Notebook is a truly unique workbook, that literally lets you put your thoughts on the world. Inside is a 256 page blank notebook & sketchbook that has been gridded with 127 cities from all around the world. This a superb gift for architects, designers, artists, & everyone who enjoys urban areas & cities. What's more, each city pattern is completely different from the next. As you jot down your notes & ideas, you'll doodle in parts of a city unconsciously, map your travel in a city or just deposit your thoughts in your most favourite spots, parks & squares. ...

Discover the wild side of cities around the world in this stunning collection of urban maps. Did you know that there are flying ...

An illustrated city walking guide like no other. Whether you`re a city-dweller who wants to explore your home turf, or a keen country walker who likes the idea of trying something different, or a discerning weekend breaker who wants to get under the skin of a city in a day or two, Urban Rambles is the book to inspire you to get out & explore your nearest city on foot. Each of these 20 walks
Includes::a GPS enabled map configured for your mobile devicespecially commissioned illustrations of the route & walk datainspiring photographs of the things you will see along the wayinformation on green spaces & architectural gemsrecommended cafes, pubs & independent shops England`s cities have become much more walkable places in the last decade, with huge investments in green spaces, redevelopment of old industrial areas & a complete urban planning re-think in favour of pedestrians. Walking in a city is the healthy lifestyle choice, offering you the chance to exercise & the calming powers of green spaces. Choose from cathedral cities like York & Lincoln, seats of learning like Cambridge & Oxford, trading ports like Bristol & Liverpool, cities designed for pleasure like Brighton & Bath. Choose to visit Victorian industrial cities Manchester, Sheffield & Birmingham, & of course the nation`s capital, where a new 25-mile circular route takes you from urban regeneration through the Olympic Park & past rivers, parks & palaces.
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From 1986 to 1994 the Caribbean nation of Haiti experienced a series of dramatic events: the overthrow of ` Baby Doc` Duvalier, the violent disruption of voting, the overwhelming electoral victory of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a coup d etat & a US-led military operation to return Aristide to power. Even by Haiti`s standards, these were exceptional episodes in a long history of political instability & social unrest. The world s media chronicled Haiti`s turbulent trajectory through newspaper articles & news films. But perhaps more importantly, Haitians themselves reacted to the cycle of hope & despair that made up their daily lives in the form of hundreds of spontaneous street murals. Mostly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, these colourful & expressive paintings both recorded key events & articulated the hopes & fears of their creators. Some targeted the fallen Duvalier & his henchmen, others the military regimes that succeeded the dictatorship. Many were later produced to celebrate the triumph of Aristide & his lavalas movement, while in 1994 a `third wave` arrived in the wake of the UN-sanctioned invasion by US forces. Haiti s popular murals mix a vital sense of the contemporary with more timeless themes & motifs. Drawing on a distinguished tradition of naive art & produced by artists from many different backgrounds, they are rich in allusions to Haiti s revolutionary history, record of anti-colonial struggle & belief in Vodou. Inspirational leaders such as Toussaint Louverture & Dessalines appear in these images, as do the Vodou deities Ogou, the iron warrior, & Ezili, the goddess of love. Alongside Christian messages of martyrdom & redemption, the paintings invoke the Vodou rituals of sacrifice & spirit possession. Captured in 120 full colour photographs by Pablo Butcher, these murals many of which have now disappeared tell in vivid terms how Haitians viewed their unfolding political drama, & literally imposed this view on their urban surroundings. ...

Before roads & rail, the industrial hubs of Great Britain were linked to the ports by a network of manmade waterways. These canals fell into disuse in the early part of the twentieth century, but in the last fifty years they have undergone a complete revival. These newly transformed waterways have become attractive destinations, & for newcomers to a city, walking its waterways will unlock famous highlights as well as hidden delights. & that is just what this book does too. With the lavish colour photography for which he is renowned, Britain`s `biographer photographer` Derek Pratt explores all the major cities & towns linked by waterways, bringing to life the canals & their environs with images that are stunning, stylish & beautiful. Through interesting, informative & typically quirky text, Derek also reveals a whole treasure trove of fascinating things most people don`t know about these industrial landscapes, whilst also explaining the commercial history of the waterways, their subsequent decline & recent revitalisation. Towns & cities covered include: London, Oxford, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Stoke on Trent & the Potteries, Leeds, Gloucester, Reading, Birmingham & the Black Country, Rugby, Worcester, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham & Bath. ...