That saying? Behind every famous man.. .? From Mrs Midas to Queen Kong from Elvis's twin sister to Pygmalion's bride they're all here in Carol Ann Duffy's inspired & inspirational collection The World's Wife. Witty & thought-provoking this is a tongue-in-cheek no-holds-barred look at the real movers & shakers across history myth & legend. If you have ever wondered for example how exactly Darwin came up with his theory of evolution or what precisely Frau Freud thought about her husband -- then this is the book for you as the wives of the great the good the not so good & the legendary are given a voice in Carol Ann Duffy's sparkling & inventive collection. ' Carol Ann Duffy is a poet of skill talent & great heart' Erica Wagner ' Duffy takes a cheeky subversive no-nonsense swipe with a dish clout at the famous men of history & myth. They don't have a chance in hell of dodging her quick-witted wallop as she relays their stories from their spouse's points of view' The Times ' Poignant thoughtful funny rich & accessible' Ruth Padel Guardian Books of the Year ...

The final revision of this classic bestseller the 7th edition defines the common thread linking the world's greatest economic thinkers & explores the philosophies that motivate them. Hailed by Galbraith as a brilliant achievement" " The Worldly Philosophers" with over 2 million copies sold worldwide not only enables us to see more deeply into our history but helps us to better understand our own times. Heilbroner provides the new theme that connects thinkers as different as Adam Smith & Karl Marx: the desire to understand how a capitalist society works. A new chapter conveys a concern that today's increasingly "scientific" economics may overlook fundamental social & political issues that are central to economics." ...

Chosen by National Geographics family of globe-trotting contributors the lavish Best of the World offers in-depth site descriptions; dozens of fun themed Best of the World lists; locator maps; illuminating sidebars several by travel & literary luminaries; & hundreds of dazzling oversized full-colour images to bring to life 500 awe-inspiring locations in a wide variety of categories
- from entire countries to mountaintop villages to pristine lakes to ancient wonders. This broad general interest travel title will appeal to active travellers looking for the next great trip as well as to the many readers who simply love dreaming of visiting far-flung idyllic destinations & for those who love to be in the know of the next travel trend. Five years after Journeys of a Lifetime" hit the stores fans are eager for the next great set of cant-miss travel hits revealed in this beautiful 2012 gift book."
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King Arthur is probably the most famous & certainly the most legendary medieval king. From the early ninth century through the middle ages to the Arthurian romances of Victorian times the tales of this legendary figure have blossomed & multiplied. & in more recent times there has been a continuous stream of books claiming to have discovered the 'facts' about or to unlock the secret or truth behind the 'once & future king'. Broadly speaking there are two Arthurs. On the one hand is the traditional 'historical' Arthur waging a doomed struggle to save Roman civilization against the relentless Anglo-Saxon tide during the darkest years of the Dark Ages. On the other is the Arthur of myth & legend
- accompanied by a host of equally legendary people places & stories: Lancelot Guinevere Galahad & Gawain Merlin Excalibur the Lady in the Lake the Sword in the Stone Camelot the Round Table. The big problem with all this is that ' King Arthur' might well never have existed. & if he did exist it is next to impossible to say anything at all about him. As this challenging new look at the Arthur legend makes clear all books claiming to reveal 'the truth' behind King Arthur can safely be ignored. Not only the 'red herrings' in the abundant pseudo-historical accounts even the 'historical' Arthur is largely a figment of the imagination: the evidence that we have
- whether written or archaeological
- is simply incapable of telling us anything detailed about the Britain in which he is supposed to have lived fought & died. The truth as Guy Halsall reveals in this fascinating investigation is both radically different
- & also a good deal more intriguing.



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An introduction to the life work & art of one of the most influential & exhilarating writers in English. Art critic architectural visionary social reformer climate warner & incomparable teacher: Ruskins words not only transformed Victorian England but speak to us with increasing urgency today. With 165 illustrations printed in full colour
- including 111 images by Ruskin ranging from private notes to presentation drawings to lecture diagrams
- mostly from the collection at the Ruskin Library & many never before published. Published in association with the Ruskin Foundation

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Worm is the gripping story of the Conficker virus- which since its introduction in November 2008 has infected millions of computers around the world
- & the cyber security elites who have joined forces in a high-tech game of cops & robbers to find its creators & defeat them. This dramatic cybercrime story travels from the Ukraine to the United States (and all parts in between) to explore the next frontier in terrorism. It is the story of a dazzling battle of wits over the future of the Internet. In Worm Mark Bowden delivers an unputdownable account of the ongoing & largely unreported war taking place literally beneath our fingertips.
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This title is presented with an introduction by Robert Macfarlane. During the Second World War John Stewart Collis volunteered to leave his comfortable life as an academic to work on the land for the war effort. His account of this time perfectly captures the soft-handed city-dwellers naivety & wonder both at the workings of nature & the toughness of life on a farm. Its set in the south of England & comprises exquisitely written sections on whatever happens to take Collis fancy & inspire his thoughtful curiosity ranging from humorous sketches of the characters he works alongside; mini-essays such as Contemplation upon Ants The Mystery of Clouds Colloquy on the Rick Meditation while Singling Mangolds The Garden of Eden; & celebrations of the earthworm pea & potato. His mind ranges far & wide through literature science & philosophy as well as amazing descriptive writing which makes for a book that is as uncategorisable as it is enchanting. ...

Sams family are cursed with a dark & terrible secret. A secret that has its origins in a remote island off the coast of China & has haunted every generation of his family for hundreds of years. Now the curse is about to claim Sam as its next victim. It starts with an itchy rash that spreads all over his body. Then the feeling of something changing within him coming alive. & why has he become obsessed with the marshes & their cool muddy waters? Why has he stopped seeing his friends & going to school? As rumours begin to spread about sightings of a sinister creature on the outskirts of town Sam is forced to face a horrifying truth. One that could destroy him... ...

It is London 1756. In his Bloomsbury attic sits Dr Sabian Blake
- astronomer scientist & master of the Cabala. Dr Blake is in possession
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Do you worry that you'll say the wrong thing wear the wrong outfit or look out of place? Or maybe that you'll make a mistake at work disappoint your partner or overlook a serious health problem? Or perhaps you just worry too much
- constantly running what-if scenarios through your head? Of course you do
- we all do. Worry is a central issue in many people's lives; 38% of people say they worry every day. In this groundbreaking book Dr Robert Leahy offers new insight advice & practical techniques for everyone who has ever had a sleepless night. Using the most recent research & his 25 years of experience treating patients Dr Leahy helps us understand why we worry & how best to defeat it. In his easy-to-follow-programme he tells you how to: Identify productive & unproductive worry; Accept reality & commit to change; Turn 'failure' into opportunity; Use your emotions rather than worry about them. Combining stories from his practice with unique approaches to reducing worry The Worry Cure is an essential companion for everyone who is anxious.

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