They stare down at us from the roofs & towers of our mediaeval churches: grotesque monstrous & utterly mesmerising. The gargoyles grimacing & leering at us down the centuries taking the form of anything from a centaur to a cretinous imp were put there in the Middle Ages to ward off the evil that lies beyond the holy ground. But even in our modern era our newspapers filled with tales of abduction & disaster these magnificent works of sculpture & carving murmur to us of nightmares & nasty thoughts & intimations of our mortality. Mike Hardings travels have taken him not only from Cumbria to Somerset but also to France Italy & even northern India in search of the most memorable & malevolent gargoyles celebrated here in his superb photographs & erudite quirky text. Here then are mouth-pullers & monster musicians poking tongues & priapic giants heads sprouting water or silently howling with toothache -not to mention the gargantuan cats glaring at us in Gloucester Cathedral. ...

At any party theres always one person who stands out from the crowd because he or she talks more intelligently & tells better jokes than everyone else there. & everyone else wishes they were as knowledgeable & witty as that person. Thanks to Keith Souters The Little Book of Genius they can be or at least appear to be. The first part which is based on serious scientific foundations explained in an accessible & light-hearted manner explains some handy techniques for winning an argument getting your point across telling a joke & generally making the most of yourself. The second contains the essentials of what you need to know about literature history art music science sport & other subjects so that people will think you are cultured intelligent & well-read. With the help of The Little Book of Genius you can be the envy of everyone else at the party! ...

A huge helping hand for your handicap The Little Book of Golf Tips" will see you swing chip pitch & putt with a touch more confidence & technique. Tips that will take you from tee to pin extricate you from bunkers & other bad lies & get you around 18 holes & back to the clubhouse in true & trimmer fashion. A book to putt into the hands of all who have ever swung & missed burrowed deep into bunkers or 3-putted from three inches." ...

This little gem of a book is a repository of intriguing fascinating obscure strange & entertaining facts & trivia about Britain & the things that have made it great. Within this volume are such chapters as inventors & inventions manners & customs great Britons great places such as castles cathedrals notable buildings museums collections & national parks while not forgotten is a celebration of the best of British music food & sports & a host of topics that explore the more eccentric & eclectic people & things that contribute to & define Great Britain. Anyone curious enough to pick up this book will be entertained & enthralled & never short of some frivolous fact to enhance a conversation or quiz! Dip in at random or sit back & enjoy there are no rules. ...

This little tips book will show keen gardeners & cooks how to make the best of all things herby. From the prettiest herb garden planting scheme to how to germinate parsley successfully. Why basil should only be torn not chopped & what it is that makes tarragon the perfect partner for roast chicken (and other stories). ...

Who does Jose Mourinho think he is? In his short time in English football hes put almost everybodys nose out of joint with his sharp tongue. He described himself as the special one then called Arsene Wenger a voyeur. He was banned by UEFA for criticising referee Anders Frisk who subsequently retired after death threats from Chelsea fans. Hes the face of American Express & other big-name brands. Mourinhos a football big mouth who always comes up trumps. Born the son of a Portuguese goalkeeper Felix Mourinho he was an average player but hes turned out to be the worlds outstanding manager. He won the UEFA Cup the Champions League & the Premiership in successive seasons & he now earns more than GBP 5m a year. This book is about the most controversial person in football featuring what hes said & what s been said about him. ...

The Little Book of Kent is a funny fast-paced fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. Here we find out about the most unusual crimes & punishments eccentric inhabitants famous sons & daughters & literally hundreds of wacky facts (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia). Alex Tullochs new book gathers together a myriad of data on Kent. This is an ideal book to have by your bedside or to while away the hours on a long train journey. & if you like to take part in pub quizzes (or set them) then you will find this book a veritable treasure trove of useful information as well as just fascinating trivia. Who knew for instance that Laurel & Hardy cut the ribbon when the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch narrow gauge railway was reopened after the war? ...

With a language disappearing every two weeks & neologisms springing up almost daily an understanding of the origins & currency of language has never seemed more relevant. In this charming volume a narrative history written explicitly for a young audience expert linguist David Crystal proves why the story of language deserves retelling. From the first words of an infant to the peculiar modern dialect of text messaging A Little Book of Language" ranges widely revealing language's myriad intricacies & quirks. In animated fashion Crystal sheds light on the development of unique linguistic styles the origins of obscure accents & the search for the first written word. He discusses the plight of endangered languages as well as successful cases of linguistic revitalization. Much more than a history Crystal's work looks forward to the future of language exploring the effect of technology on our day-to-day reading writing & speech. Through enlightening tables diagrams & quizzes as well as Crystal's avuncular & entertaining style "A Little Book of Language" will reveal the story of language to be a captivating tale for all ages." ...

With a language disappearing every two weeks & neologisms springing up almost daily an understanding of the origins & currency of language has never seemed more relevant. In this charming volume a narrative history written explicitly for a young audience expert linguist David Crystal proves why the story of language deserves retelling. From the first words of an infant to text messaging A Little Book of Language" ranges widely revealing language's myriad intricacies & quirks. In animated fashion Crystal sheds light on the development of unique linguistic styles the origins of obscure accents & the search for the first written word. He discusses the plight of endangered languages as well as successful cases of linguistic revitalization. Much more than a history Crystal's guide looks forward to the future of language exploring the effect of technology on our day-to-day reading writing & speech. Through enlightening tables diagrams & quizzes as well as Crystal's avuncular & entertaining style "A Little Book of Language" reveals the story of language to be a captivating tale for all ages." ...

Liverpool Football Club is rarely out of the news & always is the subject of interest from in & out of the world of football. From Kenny Dalglish Alan Hansen & Graeme Souness through Michael Owen Robbie Fowler & Jamie Redknapp to Jamie Carragher Steven Gerrard & John Henry few clubs can boast as many people with so much to say for themselves especially in the case of Bill Shankly football's most"ed man. Liverpool have a proud tradition & a very loyal support & The Little Book of Liverpool FC" aims to capture the flavour of both." ...