A Royal Christmas is a Christmas pudding of a book full of silver threepenny pieces. Organised thematically it covers such topics as Christmas & conflict in the 20th century Christmas pastimes festive feasts Christmas & the Commonwealth & many more it looks at the many ways in which the Royal Family have celebrated Christmas through the ages. Jeremy Archer has delved into the royal archives to uncover the personal thoughts of many royals during the Christmas period. What comes over most strongly from Queen Victorias journals is the importance of family: the joys they shared the trials they endured & the carefully selected gifts they exchanged. Although there is much happiness tragedy is a common bed-fellow particularly in earlier times. & conflict is seldom very far away. But this is a celebration
- both of an enduring festive season & an extraordinary family.
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While Europe was buried in the Dark Ages the Maya were producing astonishing sculpture stelae & wall murals as well as building magnificent temples tombs & ball courts. This extraordinary volume pairs the leading Maya scholar & one of the worlds finest photographers of ancient sites to trace the rise & fall of Mayan civilization through its great royal cities. From El Mirador to the cities of the Maya Renaissance & finally to Chichen Itza where the 700-year flowering of the Mayan people came to a halt the riveting history of powerful dynasties political intrigues & a flourishing culture is illuminated through new research & evocative photographs. A new reading of artifacts reliefs murals maps & other archaeological evidence allows Coe to untangle the complex sequence of internecine ritual warfare that fatally weakened the late Maya era. Documented with specially commissioned maps & plans based on the latest research Royal Cities of the Ancient Maya" will be irresistible to everyone from the casual visitor to Pre-Columbian experts." ...

The monarchy has made many concessions to the modern age but the affirming rituals of the coronation
- the pageantry the theatre
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This is the untold story behind one of the most sensational chapters in the history of the House of Windsor. Paul Burrell fought to clear his own name. Now he reveals new truths about Princess Diana
- & presents for the first time as faithful an account of her thoughts as we can ever hope to read. He was the favourite footman who formed a unique relationship with the Queen. He was the butler who the Princess of Wales called 'my rock' & 'the only man I can trust'. He was accused of theft then acquitted following the historic intervention of the monarch. He was the Princess' most intimate confidante
- & is the only person able to separate the myth from the truth of the Diana years. Now at last Paul Burrell cuts through the gossip & the lies & takes us closer to the complex heart of the Royal Family then ever before.

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The Royal Entomological Society (RES) & Wiley-Blackwell are proud to present this landmark publication celebrating the wonderful diversity of the insects of the British Isles & the work of the RES (founded 1833). This book is the only modern systematic account of all 558 families of British insects covering not just the large & familiar groups that are included in popular books but even the smallest & least known. It is beautifully illustrated throughout in full colour with photographs by experienced wildlife photographers to show the range of diversity both morphological & behavioural among the 24 000 species. All of the 6 000 genera of British insects are listed & indexed along with all the family names & higher groups. There is a summary of the classification biology & economic importance of each family together with further references for detailed identification. All species currently subject to legal protection in the United Kingdom are also listed. The Royal Entomological Society is one of the oldest & most prestigious of its kind in the world. It is the leading organisation for professional entomologists & its main aim has always been the promotion of knowledge about insects. The RES began its famous Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects in 1949 & new works in that series continue to be published. The Royal Entomological Society Book of British Insects has been produced to demonstrate the on-going commitment of the RES to educate & encourage each generation to study these fascinating creatures. This is a key reference work for serious students of entomology & amateur entomologists as well as for professionals who need a comprehensive source of information about the insect groups of the British Isles they may be less familiar with. ...

Meet Tilly Redbrow who doesn't just love horses
- she lives breathes & dreams them too! There's a special guest at Silver Shoe
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In Volume II of the Flashman Papers Flashman tangles with femme fatale Lola Montez & the dastardly Otto Von Bismarck in a battle of wits which will decide the destiny of a continent. In this volume of The Flashman Papers Flashman the arch-cad & toady matches his wits his talents for deceit & malice & above all his speed in evasion against the most brilliant European statesman & against the most beauiful & unscrupulous adventuress of the era. From London gaming-halls & English hunting-fields to European dungeons & throne-rooms he is involved in a desperate succession of escapes disguises amours & (when he cannot avoid them) h&-to-hand combats. All the while the destiny of a continent rests on his broad & failing shoulders. ...

This book contains selected images from three different Royal Flying Corps albums. Photographs include training in Canada & at Tangmere. There is a large variety of different aircraft featured as well as images of pilots & officers. Also included are a number of photographs from the collection of the late Lieutenant William Shorter who was shot down over German lines in 1918 at the age of twenty. ...

The Royal Langnickel Acrylic Colour Painting Easel Set comes complete with a tote bag for easy storage & travel which is ideal for painting holidays & expeditions. The complete set
Includes:; 1 Tabletop easel 6 Taklon brushes 1 wooden palette 1 Canvas Artist Tote Bag 1 Plastic Palette Knife An 11x 14 Canvas Board An 11x 14" Stretched Canvas 12 Essentials Acrylic Paints. Artist Tote Bag; The artist tote bag has a full length double zip to access the main pocket 2 carry handles removeable shouder strap front velcro pocket. Wooden Tabletop Easel; Wooden easel fully adjustable when closed flat measures 75x 30 cm "
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The Royal Langnickel Water Colour Painting Easel Set comes complete with a tote bag for easy storage & travel which is ideal for painting holidays & expeditions. The complete set
Includes:; 1 Tabletop easel 6 Taklon brushes 1 10 Well Plastic palette 1 Canvas Artist Tote Bag 12 Sheets of 11x 14 Watercolour paper 12 Essentials Watercolour Artist Tote Bag; The artist tote bag has a full length double zip to access the main pocket 2 carry handles removeable shouder strap front velcro pocket. Wooden Tabletop Easel; Wooden easel fully adjustable carry handle when closed flat measures 44x 38 cm "
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