Black poles against the pale night...like a site laid out for a mass-crucifixion.' In Herefordshire's hop-growing country where the river flows as dark as beer a converted kiln is the scene of a savage murder. When the local vicar refuses to help its new owners cope with the aftermath diocesan exorcist Merrily Watkins is sent in by the Bishop. Already involved in the case of a schoolgirl whose mother thinks she's possessed by evil the hesitant Merrily is drawn into a deadly tangle of deceit corruption & sexual menace as she uncovers the secrets of a village with a past as twisted as the hop-bines which once enclosed it. ...

Revealing the breadth of F. Scott Fitzgerald's gift for the short story form this Penguin Classics" edition of " The Case of Benjamin Button & Six Other Stories" spans multiple genres & styles to dazzling effect. Full grown with a long smoke-coloured beard requiring the services of a cane & fonder of cigars than warm milk Benjamin Button is a very curious baby indeed. & as Benjamin becomes increasingly youthful with the passing years his family wonders why he persists in the embarrassing folly of living in reverse. In this imaginative fable of ageing & the other stories collected here
- including " The Cut-Glass Bowl" in which an ill-meant gift haunts a family's misfortunes " The Four Fists" where a man's life shaped by a series of punches to his face & the revelry mobs & anguish of " May Day"
- F. Scott Fitzgerald displays his unmatched gift as a writer of short stories. ' The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' originally published in 1922 was made into a major motion picture directed by David Fincher & starring Brad Pitt Cate Blanchett & Tilda Swinton. F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) has acquired a mythical status in American literary history & his masterwork " The Great Gatsby" is considered by many to be the 'great American novel'. In 1920 he married Zelda Sayre dubbed 'the first American Flapper' & their traumatic marriage & Zelda's gradual descent into insanity became the leading influence on his writing. As well as many short stories Fitzgerald wrote five novels " This Side of Paradise" " The Great Gatsby" " The Beautiful & the Damned" " Tender is the Night" & incomplete at the time of his death " The Last Tycoon". After his death " The New York Times" said of him that 'in fact & in the literary sense he created a "generation" '. If you enjoyed " The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" you might like Fitzgerald's " The Great Gatsby" also available in " Penguin Classics". "A master of the American short story". (" The Philadelphia Enquirer"). " His talent was as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly's wings". (Ernest Hemingway)."

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Historic cookery books contain recipes that to the modern cook can appear quaint bizarre revolting or downright absurd. From the frugal to the fantastical The Curious Cookbook contains some of the most unusual recipes from historical cookery books from the Middle Ages to the Second World War to present a positive gallimaufry of fabulous food & other oddities. Historic recipes such as these also provide fascinating insights into the social & economic context of the times. Each recipe is accompanied by an engaging commentary describing the background to the recipe & the writer & charming contemporary illustrations are featured throughout. Examples of some of the recipes included: Coffins & chastletes (pies) garbage (animal entrails) porpoise with wheat porridge spit-roasted milk cowslip tart a great swan pie roasted peacock turtle soup parrot pie curried kangaroo tails invalid stew mashed potato sandwich Brussels sprouts mould ...

In The Curious Gardener Anna Pavord brings together in 12 chapters
- one from each month of the year
- 72 pieces on all aspects

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The Curious Gardeners Almanac" contains over 1000 entries of remarkable information about flowers vegetables fruits trees herbs insects birds water soil tools composts climate recipes gardens & gardeners myths superstitions biodynamics. In short it is a collection as profuse & variegated as gardening itself. Woven into this wealth of knowledge are famous"ations anecdotes traditional sayings lines of verse & words of rural wisdom. The spirit & focus of the Almanac is British but the wider picture is international as so much of our gardens originated from overseas. Dry or dull information has no place in the almanac & its presentation is as appealing as the content." ...

This title features two favourite stories from the Emmy Award
- winning show Curious George Plants a Seed" & " Curious George:
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George is thrilled to get a thank-you card in the mail from his friend Betsy. It makes him want to send thank-you cards to everyone he knows. Who can he thank? George tries to remember all the people who have been nice to him but tracking them down to deliver his homemade cards soon becomes a challenge. Now published for the first time as a st&-alone title this light-hearted lesson in good manners

Includes:: two perforated Curious George thank-you cards for personalizing. For more monkey fun investigate website & discover all the latest on Curious George books promotions games activities & more!

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Eight exciting stories about Curious George in a new jam-packed treasury. You can enjoy these popular titles: Curious George & the Firefighters"; " Curious George at the Aquarium"; " Curious George's Dinosaur Discovery"; " Curious George at the Baseball Game"; " Curious George at the Parade"; " Curious George's First Day of School"; " Curious George & the Pizza Party"; & " Curious George Plants a Tree"." ...

The inquisitive little monkey gets himself into trouble...again! George & the man with the yellow hat go to the opening of a brand new toy shop but George is so impatient that he sneaks in early. He finds a wonderland filled with hula hoops balls & puppets! & George just cant keep his paws to himself... Curious Georges adventures have been translated into over a dozen languages & have sold millions of copies around the world. With a film of Curious George starring comedian Will Ferrell coming up in 2006 the inquisitive monkey is bound to win a legion of new fans! ...

' Was rich Mrs Gertrude Hullett murdered at her luxurious 15-room home on Beachy Head? Detectives are tonight trying to establish ...