Matthew Parris & Andrew Bryson bring together some of the funniest despatches from British Ambassadors abroad in this sequel to their acclaimed Parting Shots. Based on a new BBC Radio 4 series it features some classic stories from the horse given to John Major by the authorities in Turkmenistan which got lost in the Russian rail system to the puzzling behaviour of the Spanish Ambassador in the Algerian desert. With an introduction by Matthew Parris who began his career in the FO the book shows our representatives in their best & worst lights
- rude & sympathetic clever & confused by turns
- & throws a light on how we British have viewed the world.. .and how the world has viewed us.

...

The Spanish Ambassador's Suitcase is a hilarious new collection of diplomatic tales by Matthew Parris & Andrew Bryson Heard the one about the Spanish Ambassador who arrived in the scorching Saharan desert fully suited & with a mysteriously enormous suitcase? Or the horse they gave Prime Minister John Major in Turkmenistan
- which hapless embassy officials had to rescue from the clutches of the Moscow railway? These & other 'funnies' as they are known in Whitehall are included in Matthew Parris & Andrew Bryson's glorious new volume of not so diplomatic writing which accompanies a new BBC Radio 4 series is a follow up to their acclaimed collection of ambassadors' final despatches Parting Shots. Drawn from Freedom of Information requests & previously overlooked Valedictories these startling despatches throw a revealing light on how the British have viewed the world
- & unwittingly perhaps on how the world has viewed the British. Praise for Parting Shots: Parting Shots is unbuttoned indiscreet & very funny". (Yorkshire Post). " Fascinating if sometimes uncomfortable reading". (Financial Times). " Very funny". (Guardian). After working in the Foreign Office then serving as a Conservative MP Matthew Parris joined The Times in 1988. He writes two weekly columns for The Times & one for the Spectator & in 2011 won the Best Columnist Award at the British Press awards. His acclaimed autobiography Chance Witness was published by Penguin in 2003. He is a frequent broadcaster. Andrew Bryson is a radio journalist working in the BBC's Business & Economic Unit. He frequently works as a producer on Radio 4's Today programme & on Radio 5 Live."

...

Children will learn everyday foreign language words in a flash with these illustrated cards featuring art from the popular Adventures with Nicholas" series. 50 cards teach the words kids need to know: numbers colours animals & more. This proven learning activity builds vocabulary word recognition memory & confidence. The four-colour engaging illustrations provide visual clues & the cards are durable to allow for frequent handling." ...

Shot-proof fever-proof & a veteran campaigner at the age of twenty-five Brigade-Major Harry Smith is reputed to be the luckiest man in Lord Wellington's army. But at the siege of Badajos his friends foretell the ruin of his career. For when Harry meets the defenceless Juana a fiery passion consumes him. Under the banner of honour & with the selfsame ardour he so frequently displays in battle he dives headlong into marriage. In his beautiful child-bride he finds a kindred spirit & a temper to match. But for Juana a long year of war must follow.. . Georgette Heyer was for over fifty years one of the most prolific succesful & best writers of historical romance. In The Spanish Bride she shows the skill that has won the hearts of a new wide audience in the twenty-first century. ...

A rousing & full-blooded account of the Spanish Civil War & the rise to prominence of General Franco. No modern conflict has inflamed the passions of both civilians & intellectuals as much as the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39. Burned into our collective historical consciousness it not only prefigured the imminent Second World War but also ushered in a new & horrific form of warfare that would come to define the twentieth century. At the same time it echoed the revolutionary aspirations of millions of Europeans & Americans after the painful years of the Great Depression. In this authoritative history Paul Preston vividly recounts the political ideals & military horrors of the Spanish Civil War
- including the controversial bombing of Guernica
- & tracks the emergence of General Francos brutal but extraordinarily durable fascist dictatorship.

...

A general purpose dictionary suitable for a great variety of both English & Spanish speakers at all levels of proficiency this volume contains over 100 000 entries
- common & technical words & phrases slang & idioms
- with examples of usage that include many especially chosen to help users express themselves in a natural & fluent style. All headwords
- both English & Spanish
- have phonetic transcriptions based on the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to assist with pronunciation.



...

This title deals with everyday situations in which children may find themselves while abroad. Spanish grammar is clearly explained & puzzles provide plenty of practice. This title is part of a series providing a thorough grounding in useful basic language skills. ...

Whether you want to take up Spanish from scratch or brush up on your existing skills this practical easy-to-follow guide is for you! Inside you'll find helpful lessons cultural facts handy references & much more including a Spanish-English mini-dictionary & common verb lists. Learn how to use your skills in a variety of everyday contexts & discover common expressions important holidays & phrases that'll make you sound fluent. Complete with an audio CD that means that you can hear actual Spanish conversations by native Spanish speakers Spanish For Dummies is your one-way ticket to speaking mainland Spanish with complete confidence. Spanish For Dummies
Includes:: Part I: Getting Started Chapter 1: You Already Know a Little Spanish Chapter 2: The Nitty Gritty: Basic Spanish Grammar Part II: Spanish in Action Chapter 3: Hola! Hello! Greetings & Introductions Chapter 4: Getting to Know You: Making Small Talk Chapter 5: Dining Out & Going to Market Chapter 6: Shopping Made Easy Chapter 7: Going Out on the Town Chapter 8: Enjoying Yourself: Recreation Chapter 9: Talking on the Phone Chapter 10: At the Office & Around the House Part III: Spanish on the Go Chapter 11: Money Money Money Chapter 12: Donde Esta? (Where Is It?): Asking Directions Chapter 13: Checking into a Hotel Chapter 14: Getting Around: Planes Trains Taxis & More Chapter 15: Planning a Trip Chapter 16: Help! Handling Emergencies Part IV: The Part of Tens Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Speak Spanish Quickly Chapter 18: Ten Favourite Spanish Expressions Chapter 19: Ten Holidays to Remember Chapter 20: Ten Phrases That Make You Sound Fluent in Spanish Part V: Appendixes Appendix A: Spanish-English Mini Dictionary Appendix B: Spanish Verbs Appendix C: On the CD Appendix D: Spanish Facts Note: CD-ROM/DVD & other supplementary materials are not included as part of e Book file.
...

3 hours of lessons on 3 CDs! The fun & easy way to communicate effectively in a new language! Want to speak Spanish? Don't have a lot of time? This practical audio set is designed to help you learn quickly & easily at home or on the road. From basic greetings & expressions to grammar & conversations you'll grasp the essentials & start communicating right away! Plus you can follow along with the handy 96-page portable guide-filled with the words & phrases you'll hear on the CDs as well as a mini dictionary. Skip around & learn at your own pace* CD 1: Get started with basic words & phrases.* CD 2: Form sentences & practice parts of speech.* CD 3: Handle real-world situations. Discover how to* Handle greetings & introductions* Ask questions & understand answers* Build your vocabulary* Talk about numbers time & the calendar* Ask for directions* Get help at a hotel the bank or a store ...

A vivid & gripping novel from the master of the modern spy thriller (Mail on Sunday) which sees Alec Milius coaxed back into the secret world to face the uncontainable danger of 21st century terrorism! For six years Alec Milius has escaped the past. In Madrid he has rebuilt his life but remains in exile & in danger. Slightly older & much wiser than the young spy who first impressed MI6 he has kept his fatal attraction to secrets. So when a prominent politician mysteriously disappears Alec is lured back into the spying game. Only this time he operates without the protection of any official agency -- isolated & expendable with nobody to turn to if things go wrong. & they soon do. But when Alec is confronted with the nightmare of modern terrorism he is given one last chance for redemption! ...