The Penguin Complete Novels of Nancy Mitford" with an introduction by India Knight. In print together for the first time in many years & here in one volume are all eight of Nancy Mitfords sparklingly astute hilarious & completely unputdownable novels with a new introduction by India Knight. Published over a period of 30 years they provide a wonderful glimpse of the bright young things of the thirties forties fifties & sixties in the city & in the shires; firmly ensconced at home or making a go of it abroad; & what the upper classes really got up to in peace & in war. " Entirely original inimitable & irresistible". (" Spectator"). " Deliciously funny". (Evelyn Waugh). " Utter utter bliss". (" Daily Mail"). Nancy Mitford (1904-1973) was born in London the eldest child of the second Baron Redesdale. Her childhood in a large remote country house with her five sisters & one brother is recounted in the early chapters of " The Pursuit of Love" (1945) which according to the author is largely autobiographical. Apart from being taught to ride & speak French Nancy Mitford always claimed she never received a proper education. She started writing before her marriage in 1932 in order to relieve the boredom of the intervals between the recreations established by the social conventions of her world & had written four novels including " Wigs on the Green" (1935) before the success of " The Pursuit of Love" in 1945. After the war she moved to Paris where she lived for the rest of her life. She followed " The Pursuit of Love with Love in a Cold Climate" (1949) " The Blessing" (1951) & " Dont Tell Alfred" (1960). She also wrote four works of biography: " Madame de Pompadour" first published to great acclaim in 1954 " Voltaire in Love" " The Sun King" & " Frederick the Great". As well as being a novelist & a biographer she also translated Madame de Lafayettes classic novel " La Princesse de Cleves" into English & edited " Noblesse Oblige" a collection of essays concerned with the behaviour of the English aristocracy & the idea of U & non-U. Nancy Mitford was awarded the CBE in 1972." ...

The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes" by Arthur Conan Doyle are the complete adventures of the original & best detective containing four novels & fifty-six short stories about the most engaging detective of all time with a foreword by crime writer Ruth Rendell. The detective Sherlock Holmes
- who continues to enthral millions in film & TV adaptations starring actors like Robert Downey Jr & Benedict Cumberbatch
- was the creation of Arthur Conan Doyle whose crime stories have thrilled readers for well over a century. Sherlock Holmes is not only the most famous character in crime fiction but arguably the most famous character in all fiction. In sixty adventures that pit his extraordinary wits & courage against foreign spies blackmailers cultists petty thieves murderers swindlers policemen (both stupid & clever) & his arch-nemesis Moriarty Sherlock Holmes together with his faithful sidekick Doctor John H. Watson proves himself to be not only the quintessential detective but also the most engaging & entertaining company any reader could ask for. " The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes" allows readers to experience the entire case-history of Holmes & Dr. Watson from start to finish
- the stories that have spawned such infamous characters as the devilish Moriarty the devious Irene Adler & of course the legendary hound of the Baskervilles... This edition

Includes:: a foreword written by crime writer Ruth Rendell. " Penguin" also publishes in individual volumes "A Study in Scarlet" " The Sign of Four" " The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" " The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes" " The Hound of the Baskervilles" " The Valley of Fear" " His Last Bow" & " The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes". " The immense talent passion & literary brilliance that Conan Doyle brought to his work give him a unique place in English letters. Personally I'd walk a million miles in tight boots just to read his letters to the milkman". (Stephen Fry). " Holmes has a timeless intelligence that puts him head shoulders & deer-stalker above all other detectives". (Alexander Mc Call Smith). " Now as in his lifetime cab drivers statesmen academics & raggedy-assed children sit spellbound at his feet. No wonder then if the pairing of Holmes & Watson has triggered more imitators than any other duo in literature". (John Le Carre). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) studied medicine at Edinburgh University where he became the clerk to a surgeon whose diagnostic methods provided the model for the science of deduction perfected by Sherlock Holmes. He set up as a doctor & it was while waiting for patients that he began to write. Sherlock Holmes first appeared in "A Study in Scarlet" (1887). The Holmes stories soon attracted such a following that Conan Doyle felt the character overshadowed his other work. In " The Final Problem" (1893) Conan Doyle killed him off but was obliged by public demand to restore the detective to life."




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World-renowned linguist & reference editor David Crystal brings us the third edition of Penguin's Concise Encyclopedia". This abridgement condenses the core material in the third edition of the " Penguin Encyclopedia" which has already reached a world sales total of over 23 000 copies in hardback. David Crystal has a gift for clarity & concision which enables him to illuminate even the most intricate concepts. Here he offers over 22 000 alphabatised entries on the facts events issues people beliefs & achievements that make up the sum of human knowledge. Entries have been written by over 350 specialist contributors from universities museums & other institutions of excellence around the world. " The Concise Encyclopedia" is part of the Penguin Reference Library & draws on over 70 years of experience in bringing reliable useful & clear information to millions of readers around the world." ...

This new paperback dictionary perfectly embodies Penguin's worldwide reputation for authority & accessibility. Compiled by Britain's foremost lexicographers it is the ideal companion for every home & office offering comprehensive coverage of the language & a wealth of useful additional features
- all at an unbeatable price.
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Need a handbook to your architects business or studies? Struggling with your latest DIY project? Interested in the art of architecture? This classic work now in its fifth edition covers every aspect of architecture & landscape architecture. Ranging from ancient times to contemporary trends it adopts a truly international perspective focussing on countries & cultures such as Coptic Tibet & De Stijl. Without doubt this is the standard work in the field. As reflected by its new title The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture & Landscape Architecture" has now been expanded to include recent developments in the field of landscape architecture. Full account has been taken too of the huge range of building traditions around the world. The text has been completely reset & all the illustrations redrawn. Immensely useful succinct & judicious...this is a book rich in fact & accumulated wisdom.
- " The Times Literary Supplement"."
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The Penguin Dictionary of Economics" explains a host of economic terms from acceleration principle to venture capital Euro to X-efficiency globalisation to zero-sum game. The eighth edition has been fully revised & updated to include those terms that have become so familiar since the global recession begun (quantitative easing & sub-prime among them) but whose meanings escape most of us. Wide-ranging & accessible this detailed practical & international guide will be indispensable for students of economics & professionals (in business finance or the public sector) & for anyone wishing to follow economic discussions in the media today." ...

To put the cart before the horse have the cheek of the devil or be a pillar of society
- these are just some of the thousands of
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The Penguin Dictionary of English Synonyms & Antonyms is the ideal work of reference for both home & office. Anyone who has found themselves stumped for the best & most appropriate word or who wants to avoid repetition whether student or writer politician or advertiser after-dinner speaker or crossword fanatic will find this easy-to-use dictionary invaluable on every occasion. ...

What's in a name? Rather more than you might at first suspect for names are steeped in history & myth & have much to tell us about our past our beliefs
- even our personality traits. Now fully updated for its second edition with 150 new entries The Penguin Dictionary of First Names" takes a close look at over 5 000 examples ranging from the familiar to the comparatively obscure drawn from all parts of the English-speaking world. Detailed & informative it is essential reading for expectant parents & for anyone who is intrigued by the story attached to each name."
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The science of geology is going through a remarkable period of expansion & advancement. The New Penguin Dictionary of Geology contains over 7 500 fully updated definitions making it the most extensive dictionary of the Earth sciences ever produced. It

Includes:: a full bibliography of up-to-date works covering all areas of geology. Authoritative & accessible this new edition will prove invaluable to researcher student & amateur geologist.

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