A colourfully decorated Christmas tree lit with twinkling lights provokes awe & delight. We understand the lighted tree as a central symbol of the Christmas season but what are the roots of the tradition? Who first thought to bedeck a tree to bring it inside? How & where did the local activity grow into a widespread tradition & how has the Christmas tree traveled across time & continents? Bernd Brunners brief history
- enriched by a selection of delightful & unusual historical illustrations
- spans many centuries & cultures to illuminate the mysteries of the Christmas tree & its enduring hold on the human imagination. Tracing various European traditions from the Middle Ages forward Brunner finds that only in the nineteenth century did Christmas trees become common in European family homes. In North America the imported custom soon fascinated though some found the tree not quite compatible with a Puritan mindset. Brunner explores how the Christmas tree entered mainstream American culture & how in recent times it has become globally popular. He introduces Jacqueline Kennedys Nutcracker Tree in the White House trees used to celebrate the New Year in Turkey & the worlds most expensive Christmas tree erected in Abu Dhabi. The author also considers the place of the artificial tree & the ecological

Dimensions of the Christmas tree trade. A book rich with anecdote & insight Inventing the Christmas Tree" will enchant a wide audience."



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In this book Petroski delves deeper into the mystery of invention to explore what everyday artifacts & sophisticated networks can reveal about the way engineers solve problems. Engineering entails more than knowing the way things work. What do economics & ecology aesthetics & ethics have to do with the shape of a paper clip the tab of a beverage can the cabin design of a turbojet or the course of a river? How do the idiosyncrasies of individual engineers companies & communities leave their mark on projects from Velcro to fax machines to waterworks? Invention by Design" offers an insiders look at these political & cultural

Dimensions of design & development production & construction. Henry Petroskis previous books include: " To Engineer Is Human" which was developed into a BBC television documentary; " The Pencil": " The Evolution of Useful Things"; & " Engineers of Dreams"."

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The Invention of Childhood will paint a vivid picture of the lives of children in Britain from pagan Anglo-Saxon times to the present day. Drawing heavily on primary sources such as diaries autobiographies paintings photographs & letters the book will present a complete chronological history of the experience of children in Britain during the past 1500 years. We will learn the key elements that have shaped their lives down the ages & how this has differed as a result of gender geography & ethnicity. The book will also relate childrens lives to larger events in national & international history. Written by Hugh Cunningham the Professor of History at the Universtity of Kent at Canterbury & an expert on childhood history
- the book will accompany the Radio 4 series presented by the highly respected childrens author Michael Morpurgo. Michael is contributing a lengthy foreword to the book. The Invention of Childhood will expand on a number of key themes from the radio series including the idea of childhood as a distinct stage of life. Opinions on when childhood should start & end & how it differs from adulthood have changed considerably down the centuries. & these inventions & reinventions of childhood (hence the title) have had a profound effect on childrens lives. The prolonged childhood we enjoy in Britain today was a luxury few could afford in the past. This fascinating study will draw attention to the ways in which we may find childhood & children in the past quite similar to the present & to ways in which childrens lives from the past seem to differ sharply from the lives children lead today.
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ORPHAN CLOCK KEEPER & THIEF twelve-year-old Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station where his survival depends on secrets & anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric girl & her grandfather Hugo's undercover life & his most precious secret are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing a treasured notebook a stolen key a mechanical man & a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate tender & spellbinding mystery. ...

We are a trading community a commercial people. Murder is doubtless a very shocking offence nevertheless as what is done is not to be undone let us make our money out of it. Punch Murder in the 19th century was rare. But murder as sensation & entertainment became ubiquitous -- transformed into novels into broadsides & ballads into theatre & melodrama & opera -- even into puppet shows & performing dog-acts. In this meticulously researched & compelling book Judith Flanders -- author of The Victorian House -- retells the gruesome stories of many different types of murder -- both famous & obscure. From the crimes (and myths) of Sweeney Todd & Jack the Ripper to the tragedies of the murdered Marr family in Londons East End Burke & Hare & their bodysnatching business in Edinburgh & Greenacre who transported his dismembered fiancee around town by omnibus. With an irresistible cast of swindlers forgers & poisoners the mad the bad & the dangerous to know The Invention of Murder is both a gripping tale of crime & punishment & history at its most readable. ...

Disney Club Penguin is the webs biggest online community for children aged 6 to 14. The Inventors Apprentice" is the second in the bestselling " Club Penguin Pick Your Path" series
- the exciting series of books for children ages 6-14 & avid Club Penguin fans that allows the reader to choose what happens. You just won a contest for creating an awesome new invention. & your prize is to be Gary the Gadget Guys apprentice for a day! You could help Gary perfect his latest contraption like a rocket-powered surfboard or a time machine. Or your apprentice might prove to be a total disaster. Which will it be? You decide! Disney Club Penguin is the webs biggest online community for children aged 6 to 14; children create their own Penguin play mini-games collect items & more! The series of accompanying Club Penguin books including " The Official Stage Playbook" " Club Penguin Secret Agent Handbook" " Stowaway! Adventures at Sea" " Star Reporter" " Game Mania" is the perfect way to enhance your Club Penguin experience."
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Inventors That Changed the World contains information about the lives of top inventors that have changed the world. Find out who they were what they invented & much much more. This book provides a fresh & exciting insight into science & technology. White Wolves Non-fiction is a guided reading scheme which takes a high-interest approach to core geography history & science topics. These books are ideal for classroom & topic libraries & for teaching non-fiction literacy skills in a curriculum context. ...

OS Explorer Map is the Ordnance Survey's most detailed map & is recommended for anyone enjoying outdoor activities like walking horse riding & off-road cycling. Providing complete GB coverage the series details essential information such as youth hostels pubs & visitor information as well as rights of way permissive paths & bridleways. ...

The area covered by this guide centres on the Highland capital of Inverness & extends north & east along the shores of the Moray Firth & south & west to Fort Augustus & Glen Affric encompassing Caithness eastern Sutherland Easter Ross the Black Isle Moray & the banks of Loch Ness. With coastal walks including a route through classic Caithness scenery at Noss Head. Inland ascents to Ben Rinnes & Ben Wyvis provide panoramic views of the surrounding area & opportunities to see rare alpine flora & a route via Loch Affric reveals some of Scotlands most magnificent scenery. ...

Perfect for day trips & short breaks the OS Landranger Map series covers Great Britain with 204 detailed maps. Each map provides all the information you need to get to know your local area &

Includes:: places of interest tourist information picnic areas & camp sites plus Rights of Way information for England & Wales.

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