Was the Battle of Hastings a French victory? Non! William the Conqueror was Norman & hated the French. Were the Brits really responsible for the death of Joan of Arc? Non! The French sentenced her to death for wearing trousers. Was the guillotine a French invention? Non! It was invented in Yorkshire. Ten centuries' worth of French historical 'facts' bite the dust as Stephen Clarke looks at what has really been going on since 1066... ...

Now newly revised this fascinating book is the ultimate critical guide to historys greatest albums spanning more than 50 years of outstanding music across all genres from the genesis of 1950s rock n roll to the technological & electronic innovations of the 2000s. With inside knowledge & incisive criticism from 90 internationally acclaimed music journalists this updated edition provides an indispensable companion to the music itself. Illustrated with more than 900 iconic images of album covers bands & artists 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a must-have for the musically inspired. ...

From the familiar to the exotic children will love finding the animals to spot in this revised picture puzzle book full of different habitats. Bright busy scenes provide plenty of material for both readers & pre-readers to talk about with things to find & count on every page. Simple text & eye-catching illustrations combine to help children develop skills in reading counting matching & identification. ...

1001 Battles That Changed the Course of History traces the history of warmongering from the small-scale battles of the ancient world to the devastation of modern conflicts. It provides a comprehensive record of the armed combats that have shaped the political & cultural landscape of the world & is fully illustrated with images ranging from ancient triumphal stone carvings through to the very latest war photography. This is much more than a straightforward military history title; it reveals the fascinating & sometimes surprising ways in which key military events have shaped the world in which we live. From the earliest recorded conflicts involving just a few thousand foot soldiers to the horrors of modern chemical warfare 1001 Battles That Changed the Course of History looks at the reasons why people go to war & both the short- & long-term consequences of battles of all sizes. To understand modern conflicts people need to know what has gone before. This book traces the changing face of warfare around the globe from the Battle of Troy the Fall of Babylon & the Siege of Antioch to the Battle of Gettysburg the bombing of Guernica the Siege of Leningrad & the Battle of Fallujah. ...

Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in the world the most refreshing the most sociable & the most versatile. It has been brewed since the dawn of time & still has the capacity to delight & obsess its many adherents. This bewitching thirst-inducing gorgeously illustrated book is a guide to the best beers in the world with a succinct history of the breweries tasting notes temperature recommendations & what food to serve them with together with entertaining anecdotes about the breweries. Here you will sample world classics such as the ales of England the speciality beers of Belgium the new wave beers of U.S. craft brewers the magical lagers of Germany & Central Europe & a host of world beers that will beguile & bedazzle. The reader might not drink all these beers in their lifetime but after reading this book they will know which ones will be their personal favorites. ...

Completely revised & updated to include the most up-to-date selections this is a bold & bright reference book to the novels & the writers that have exited the worlds imagination. This authoritative selection of novels reviewed by an international team of writers critics academics & journalists provides a new take on world classics & a reliable guide to whats hot in contemporary fiction. Featuring more than 700 illustrations & photographs & presenting"es from individual novels & authors & completely revised for 2012 this is the ideal book for everybody who loves reading. ...

A new edition of the popular title from the 1001 Things to Spot" series colorfully illustrated by Teri Gower. Bright & busy bug-filled scenes include a craggy cave a grassy meadow jungle treetops & even a garden shed! Plenty of things for readers & pre-readers to look at & talk about helping them to develop skills in reading counting matching & identification." ...

1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die is a visual testament to the beauty grace & fortitude of the world's greatest architectural achievements. Beginning in the ancient & Near East the book explores middle age Byzantine & Gothic examples such as Notre Dame Cathedral Paris goes on to St Paul's Cathedral London & continues through the Chrysler Building New York City with its art deco metal pinnacle to splendid contemporary innovations such as Norman Foster's Reichstag parliament building Berlin & Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall Los Angeles. The book is not only concerned with size
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Includes:: some of the world's most remarkable domestic buildings such as the Mongolian yurt & houses of the American pioneers as well as railway buildings chapels casinos concert halls gentlemen's clubs & museums cherished often for the way they represent & capture a particular moment in history in their details & atmosphere. 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die is the complete companion to the outstanding architecture of the world. A fascinating mixture of familiar landmarks & little-known gems.


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Over the centuries comic books & their offshoots such as graphic novels & bandes dessinees have evolved into a phenomenally popular influential & unique art form with which we can express our opinions our fantasies our nightmares & our dreams. In short: comics are emphatically no longer just for kids. This diverse constantly evolving medium is truly coming into its own in the 21st century from Hollywoods blockbuster adaptations of super-powered caped crusaders to the global spread of Japans manga & its spinoffs & from award-winning graphic novels such as Maus & Persepolis to new forms such as online webcomix. But comics also have a long & rich history dating back at least to the Swiss teacher Rodolphe Topffer in the early 19th century & far earlier in China. 1001 Comic Books You Must Read Before You Die is the perfect introduction to this dynamic & globally popular medium. There have been other guides to the best comic books but none has embraced every genre & scoured the globe to glean the very greatest works of sequential art graphic literature bandes dessinees tebeos fumetti manga manhwa komiks strips historietas quadrinhos beeldverhalen & plain old comics. This authoritative guide is organized according to the year of first publication in the country of origin. An opening section acknowledges pioneering pre-1900 masterpieces followed by sections divided by decade creating a fascinating year-by-year chronicle of the comics medium worldwide. ...

1001 Escapes To Make Before You Die" is the essential guide for all discerning travelers seeking an escape from the madding crowd. Every experience described in this book represents a genuine respite from the drudgery of daily life & guarantees a boost to your general well-being. Contemplate the sunset from a minimalist mountain retreat cruise the Nile on a nineteenth-century cabin cruiser hire a fort with its own private beach chill out in an ice hotel or wallow in a mud bath. The choice is yours. This book is quite simply a compilation of some of the most amazing escapes from the everyday that you can experience in the world
- however much time you have to spare & whatever your budget. Within these pages you will find classic escapes that offer away-from-it-all tranquility such as a sun-drenched private Caribbean island complete with butler; a converted monastery in Peru at such high altitude that oxygen has to be pumped into the bedrooms; a lighthouse in Newfoundland; & that most classic of great train journeys the Trans-Siberian railway. Beautifully illustrated "1001 Escapes To Make Before You Die" will also show you some hidden gems located in some of the worlds biggest & busiest cities that offer the perfect retreat from the frenzy of city life. Discover an oasis of greenery just a stones throw from Djemma El Fna the pulsating center of Marrakech; a tranquil walled garden in the heart of Londons Chelsea; & a hidden treehouse deep within the Amazon rain forest."
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