I remember being much amused last year, when landing at Calais, wrote Mrs. Frances Trollope in her 1835 book, Paris & the Parisians, at the answer made by an old traveler to a novice... making his first voyage. ' What a dreadful smell!' said the uninitiated stranger... ' It is the smell of the continent, sir!' replied the man of experience. & so it was. Historians James Munson & Richard Mullen examine just what it was about the smell of the continent that so attracted British travelers in the hundred years from the fall of Napoleon to the outbreak of the First World War. It was the first time in history that the British, en masse, set out to discover Europe. Drawing on contemporary accounts, diaries, & letters, Munson & Mullen offer a compelling portrait of the Victorians abroad, many of them convinced that their country was not only vastly superior but also the envy of the world. Their attitudes to foreign food, modes of transport, & habits were often as uncharitable then as now & complaints about "beastly abroad" abound. But there were also those intrepid souls who were genuinely interested in other countries what they could learn from them. The Smell of the Continent vividly reveals that the gulf between the "traveler" & the "tourist" was as wide in our great-grandparents' time as it is today. ...

'I remember being much amused last year, when landing at Calais, ' wrote Mrs Frances Trollope in her 1835 book, Paris & the Parisians, 'at the answer made by an old traveller to a novice.. .making his first voyage. " What a dreadful smell!" said the uninitiated stranger.. ."it is the smell of the continent, sir!" replied the man of experience. & so it was.' Historians James Munson & Richard Mullen examine just what it was about the smell of the continent that so attracted British travellers in the hundred years from the fall of Napoleon to the outbreak of the First World War. It was the first time in history that the British, en masse, set out to discover Europe. Drawing on contemporary accounts, diaries & letters, Munson & Mullen offer a compelling portrait of the Victorians abroad, many of them convinced that their country was not only vastly superior but also the envy of the world. From the glowing review coverage: ' Pure charm' A.N. Wilson, Reader's Digest ' An entertaining & sometimes surprising, thought-provoking history' Sunday Times ...

Delve into the thrilling adventures of the quintessentially English spymaster, George Smile.  These eight gripping, globetrotting

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Born into grinding poverty, young Freddie Musgrave relies on his wits to survive & help feed his family.

He earns

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Books Historical Fiction Books A sweeping saga of friendship, betrayal & finding love in the unlikeliest places. 1813: Haunted by her father's death & tired of watching her mother struggle, Meg Marsh will do anything to keep a roof over her family's head. Even if that means getting involved in a dangerous smuggling operation. When Meg catches the eye of a dashing gentleman above her station, things start to look up, & she can't help but start dreaming of a life away from the shingle & boats of Castle Bay. Blinded by flattery & coin, Meg can't see the danger on the horizon
- & the cost just might be her life 1913: Carrie Marsh lives a quiet life as a teacher until she falls in with the wealthiest family in Castle Bay & turns the head of the charming eldest son, Oscar. In an attempt to impress her new friends, she takes them to the secret garden rumoured to be haunted by her murdered ancestor. One outing turns into a carefree summer of pleasure, & the garden...
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It's the smurfiest night of the year
- the Blue Moon Festival! Everyone in Smurf Village is excited! But just as the blue moon
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Far, far away, in a little mushroom village, live a group of little blue pixies in short trousers & white bonnets called The Smurfs. Only as tall as three apples, they speak in ' Smurf', a language that only they underst&. The Smurfs are carefree, peaceful creatures that live in harmony with nature. But they have a nasty habit of wanting to act like man, which causes them 1, 001 problems. Following the massive success of the DVD & Blu-ray release of the summer blockbuster The Smurfs The Movie, Arrow Films & Fabulous Films proudly presents The Smurfs Love Smurfette, 6 Smurfette themed episodes of this much loved, long running Hanna Barbera cartoon series. Episodes include: ' Smurfette's Gift', ' Smurfette's Lucky Star', ' Clockwise Smurfette', ' Wild About Smurfette', ' Soothsayer Smurfette' & ' Smurfette's Green Thumb'. Running time
- 1 hour 40 minutes.
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Details: Far, far away, in a little mushroom village, live a group of little blue pixies in short trousers & white
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A villain named Oilycreep steals the Smurfs' magic flute, an instrument that makes people dance wildly, & uses it to rob them. The King sends out Peewit to track down the thief & retrieve the flute. Now Johan & Peewit must get it back at all costs, so they head to the magical kingdom of Smurfs to ask for their help. The fantastic original feature film, with special features included. Running time approximately: 1 hour 11 minutes. ...

Never has Inspector Montalbanos character ? a unique blend of humor, cynicism, compassion, earthiness, & love of good food ? been more compelling than in The Snack Thief. When an elderly man is stabbed to death in an elevator & a crewman on an Italian fishing trawler is machine-gunned by a Tunisian patrol boat off Sicilys coast, only Inspector Montalbano suspects a link between the two incidents. His investigation leads to the beautiful Karima, an impoverished house cleaner & sometime prostitute, whose young son steals other school childrens mid-morning snacks. But Karima disappears, & the young snack thiefs life ? as well as Montalbanos ? is endangered when the inspector exposes a vipers nest of government corruption & international intrigue. ...