Robert Schumann (1810-56) is one of the most important & representative composers of the Romantic era. Born in Zwickau Germany Schumann began piano instruction at age seven & immediately developed a passion for music. When a permanent injury to his hand prevented him from pursuing a career as a touring concert pianist he turned his energies & talents to composing writing hundreds of works for piano & voice as well as four symphonies & two ballets. Here acclaimed biographer Martin Geck tells the fascinating story of this multifaceted genius set in the context of the political & social revolutions of his time. The image of Schumann the man & the artist that emerges in Geck's book is complex. Geck shows Schumann to be not only a major composer & music critic-he cofounded & wrote articles for the controversial Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik-but also a political activist the father of eight children & an addict of mind-altering drugs. Through hard work & determination bordering on the obsessive Schumann was able to control his demons & channel the tensions that seethed within him into music that mixes the popular & esoteric resulting in compositions that require the creative engagement of reader & listener. The more we know about a composer the more we hear his personality in his music even if it is above all on the strength of his work that we love & admire him. Martin Geck's book on Schumann is not just another rehashing of Schumann's life & works but an intelligent personal interpretation of the composer as a musical literary & cultural personality. ...

Robert the Bruce & All That" is a real-life adventure packed with historical facts about Scotlands warrior king. Gallop alongside King Robert the Bruce as he takes up the quest to free the Scots from terrifying King Edward & his bumbling son Edward II. Voyage with Bruce to the mysterious islands of the west & read about the secret plan to win over his kingdom. Discover what happened to Bruces queen & sisters when they were seized by the enemy. Learn how to capture a castle as Bruce & his men topple enemy fortresses across the l&. Hear skulls crack as Bruce sends Edward II homeward to think again at the Battle of Bannockburn. Follow Bruces amazing life after death as his heart is taken into battle in Spain
- & find out how it was safely returned home. Packed with fantastic illustrations this brilliant book will make you want to dress up in chain mail & relive the action!"
...

When Manchester Citys owners appointed Roberto Mancini in late 2009 the message was clear: this was the man who would overtake the Blues illustrious neighbours & restore the club to the pinnacle of English football. The former Italy playmaker swiftly repaid their faith following up an FA Cup triumph in his first full season with the Premier League title
- won in the most heartstopping fashion imaginable
- to continue a success story that had taken him from early stardom in Bologna to back-to-back league titles as Inter Milan manager. Now renowned Italian sports writer Luca Caioli gives the full inside story of Mancinis rollercoaster life in football
- from his early days as a firebrand centre forward through glory days with Sampdoria & Lazio to his emergence as a charismatic if controversial pitch-side leader. Featuring insights from those who know him best
- including family members former teammates & managers as well as an exclusive interview with Mancini himself it provides a unique & revealing portrait of the man behind the Blue revolution.



...

Roberto Mancini: The Biography of a True Blue Legend" is the exhilarating account of how Roberto Mancini guided the Noisy Neighbours from the Blue side of Manchester to the top of the Premier League. Since the Italian took the helm at Manchester City the club's Premier League challenge has grown stronger with each season. Backed by the fabulous wealth of his Emerati bosses ' Bobby Manc' has already turned himself into a club legend. With talent such as Yaya Toure David Silva & Sergio Aguero on the pitch bought to the tune of GBP 150 million the club's directors & fans now demand nothing less than the Premier League title & regular Champions League football. & that is exactly what Roberto Mancini has delivered. This exciting new biography looks at his appointment as manager in 2009 the third place finish in 2010-11 that secured Champions League football plus the FA Cup win over Stoke City which ended the club's longest trophy drought in its history. It also details the astonishing events of 13 May 2012 which gave City their first title since 1968
- one that's unlikely to be their last. It also looks at Mancini's background & his outstanding playing & managerial career in his native Italy. Along the way the book looks at the highs lows & endless stream of talking points from the Carlos Tevez saga & the controversial antics of Mario Balotelli to the 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United in their own backyard & the extraordinary nail-biting finale to 2011-12 campaign when City waited until the final two minutes of the season to claim the title. But this is not just a book for City fans it is a hugely entertaining read for all sports fans who want an insight into how Roberto Mancini propelled himself & his club into the history books in the most spectacular fashion imaginable."
...

The Sheriff of Nottingham is determined to punish Robin for his defiance of authority. He holds the villagers of Locksley hostage threatening to cut out a villagers tongue every hour until Robin is found. Robin has no choice but to give himself up to protect them. But with his gang of outlaws on his side all is not lost... An action adventure read by Richard Armitage who plays Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood & featuring Robin & his loyal band of brothers as seen in the hit BBC TV series. This exciting new adaptation of the classic tale starring Jonas Armstrong is crammed with action humour wit & romance bringing the legendary outlaw hero to life for a whole new generation. Also included is a bonus interview with Richard Armitage giving an exclusive behind-the-scenes account of filming for the TV series. It is a must-have for the Robin Hood fan! ...

From football to go karting & real heroes & aliens Books for Boys are packed with high action adventure & humour ideal for turning reluctant boy readers into lifelong bookworms. Ideal for fans of HARRY & THE DINOSAURS who are ready to move on to chapter books. Do you know everything there is to know about Robin Hood & his Merry Men? Well think again! Before they were famous battling the nasty Sheriff of Nottingham this famous band of heroes were normal boys with normal names. So how did they come to be called Robin Hood Friar Tuck Will Scarlett & Little John? Well its quite a story & certainly not one for the faint-hearted! ...

Robin Jenkinss greatest novel is a powerful examination of good & evil set against the backdrop of a Scottish estate during World War II. With its themes of class-conflict war evil & envy this is a towering work of fiction that remains as relevant today as when it was first published. Suspenseful dark & unforgettable it is one of the masterpieces of modern Scottish literature. Iain Crichton Smiths SCOTNOTE study guide is a skilful & intelligent guide to the themes & characters of the novel & explores the religious philosophical & moral questions that it poses. Suitable for senior school pupils & students of all ages. ...

Who has not dreamed of life on an exotic isle far away from civilization? Here is the novel which has inspired countless imitations by lesser writers none of which equal the power & originality of Defoe's famous book. Robinson Crusoe set ashore on an island after a terrible storm at sea is forced to make do with only a knife some tobacco & a pipe. He learns how to build a canoe make bread & endure endless solitude. That is until twenty-four years later when he confronts another human being. First published in 1719 Robinson Crusoe" has been praised by such writers as James Joyce Virginia Woolf & Samuel Johnson as one of the greatest novels in the English language." ...

'I made him know his Name should be Friday which was the Day I sav'd his Life...I likewise taught him to say Master' Robinson Crusoe's seafaring adventures are abruptly ended when he is shipwrecked the solitary survivor on a deserted isl&. He gradually creates a life for himself building a house cultivating the land & making a companion from the native whose life he saves. Daniel Defoe's enthralling story-telling & imaginatively detailed descriptions have ensured that his fiction masquerading as fact remains one of the most famous stories in English literature. On one level a simple adventure story the novel also raises profound questions about moral & spiritual values society & man's abiding acquisitiveness. This new edition

Includes:: a scintillating Introduction & notes that illuminate the historical context. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text up-to-date bibliographies for further study & much more.

...

Young Reading Series Two" is aimed at children whose reading ability is beginning to grow & helps build confidence & ability. Six popular titles in " Usborne Young Reading Series Two" are re-issued in luxurious hardback editions with ribbon markers. " The Young Reading" series is developed in consultation with Alison Kelly who is a senior lecturer in education & an early reading specialist from Roehampton University." ...