The saga that has enthralled the millions of readers of The Pillars of the Earth & World Without End now continues with Ken Follett`s magnificent, gripping A Column of Fire. Christmas 1558, & young Ned Willard returns home to Kingsbridge to find his world has changed. The ancient stones of Kingsbridge Cathedral look down on a city torn by religious hatred. Europe is in turmoil as high principles clash bloodily with friendship, loyalty & love, & Ned soon finds himself on the opposite side from the girl he longs to marry, Margery Fitzgerald. Then Elizabeth Tudor becomes queen & all of Europe turns against Engl&. The shrewd, determined young monarch sets up the country`s first secret service to give her early warning of assassination plots, rebellions & invasion plans. Elizabeth knows that alluring, headstrong Mary Queen of Scots lies in wait in Paris. Part of a brutally ambitious French family, Mary has been proclaimed the rightful ruler of Engl&, with her own supporters scheming to get rid of the new queen. Over a turbulent half-century, the love between Ned & Margery seems doomed, as extremism sparks violence from Edinburgh to Geneva. With Elizabeth clinging precariously to her throne & her principles, protected by a small, dedicated group of resourceful spies & courageous secret agents, it becomes clear that the real enemies
- then as now
- are not the rival religions. The true battle pitches those who believe in tolerance & compromise against the tyrants who would impose their ideas on everyone else
- no matter the cost.


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A WORLD IN TURMOIL1558, & Europe is in revolt as religious hatred sweeps the continent. Elizabeth Tudor has ascended to the throne but she is not safe in this dangerous new world. There are many who would see her removed, not least Mary Queens of Scots, who lies in wait in Paris. A NEW ORDERElizabeth determines to set up a new secret service: a group of resourceful spies & courageous agents entrusted to keep her safe & in power. As she searches for those who will make the difference, one man stands out.A MAN WHO WOULD DIE FOR HIS QUEENFor Ned Willard the opportunity to serve his queen is God-sent. He cannot stay in Kingsbridge & watch the love of his life marry another, & as fires burn & extremism begins to spark throughout Europe, Ned makes his choice. He will spend his life protecting his monarch from the tyrants who aim to destroy her or die trying... ...

Millions of readers have been enthralled by the saga that began in The Pillars of the Earth & World Without End, which now continues with Ken Follett`s magnificent, gripping A Column of Fire.A WORLD IN TURMOIL1558, & Europe is in revolt as religious hatred sweeps the continent. Elizabeth Tudor has ascended to the throne but she is not safe in this dangerous new world. There are many who would see her removed, not least Mary Queens of Scots, who lies in wait in Paris.A NEW ORDERElizabeth determines to set up a new secret service: a group of resourceful spies & courageous agents entrusted to keep her safe & in power. As she searches for those who will make the difference, one man stands out.A MAN WHO WOULD DIE FOR HIS QUEENFor Ned Willard the opportunity to serve his queen is God-sent. He cannot stay in Kingsbridge & watch the love of his life marry another, & as fires burn & extremism begins to spark throughout Europe, Ned makes his choice. He will spend his life protecting his monarch from the tyrants who aim to destroy her or die trying... ...

London, July 1946. A woman`s body is found in a disused bomb site off the Holloway Road. She is identified as Lillian Frobisher, ”a respectable wife & mother” who lived with her family nearby. The police assume that Lillian must have been the victim of a sexual assault; but when the autopsy finds no evidence of rape, they turn their attention to her private life
- How did she come to be in the bomb site, a well-known lovers` haunt? Why was her husband seemingly unaware that she`d failed to come home on the night she was killed? In this deeply evocative crime drama, Sian Busby strips away the veneer of stoicism & respectability in post-war Britain to reveal a society riven with disillusionment & loss.
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The essential guidebook to this mysterious & enigmatic isl&, & the only book about Easter Island written by someone who actually lives here. This guidebook

Includes:: the island`s history, culture & all of its significant archaeological sites. It also contains all of the practical information needed for your visit, including island activities & up-to-date restaurant & shopping recommendations. It will also tell you the best times to visit the sites in order to get the optimal light for photography & to avoid the crowds, as well as many other `local` tips that no other guidebook will tell you. Contains over 100 colour photos of Easter Isl&, as well as colour maps of both the island & the one town, Hanga Roa.

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Twenty-three-year-old Zhuang (or Z as she calls herself) arrives in London to spend a year learning English. Struggling to find her way in the city, & through the puzzles of tense, verb & adverb; she falls for an older Englishman & begins to realise that the landscape of love is an even trickier terrain. ...

This compact guide to Britain`s churches brings out the richness & diversity of over 1500 years of Christian heritage; it also places the parish church at the core of our social & cultural history. The author explains the importance of place in the siting of a church, the various architectural styles, the layout of the interior in relation to religious practice, the purpose & meaning of stained glass & wall paintings, & much else. In short, the perfect companion for the church visitor. ...

This is the most up-to-date & comprehensive study of French history available ranging from the early middle ages to the present. Amongst its central themes are the relationships between state & society, the impact of war, competition for power, & the ways in which power has been used. Whilst taking full account of major figures such as Philip Augustus, Henri IV, Louis XIV, Napoleon & de Gaulle, it sets their activities within the broader context of changing economic & social structures & beliefs, & offers rich insights into the lives of ordinary men & women. This third edition has been substantially revised &

Includes:: a new chapter on contemporary France
- a society & political system in crisis as a result of globalisation, rising unemployment, a failing educational system, growing social & racial tensions, corruption, the rise of the extreme right, & a widespread loss of confidence in political leaders.


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Spanning a period of 2000 years from the Roman conquest of Dacia to the present day, A Concise History of Romania traces the development of a unique nation situated on the border between East & West. In this illuminating new history, Keith Hitchins explores Romania`s struggle to find its place amidst two diverse societies: one governed by Eastern orthodox tradition, spirituality & agriculture & the other by Western rationalism, experimentation & capitalism. The book charts Romania`s advancement through five significant phases of its history: medieval, early modern, modern & finally the nation`s `return to Europe`; evaluating all the while Romania`s part in European politics, economic & social change, intellectual & cultural renewals & international entanglements. This is a fascinating history of an East European nation; one which sheds new light on the complex evolution of the Romanians & the identity they have successfully crafted from a unique synthesis of traditions. ...

Definitive & insightful, in this richly layered & engrossing account, John Mc Hugo reveals how the great divide in Islam occurred. Charting the story of Islam from the death of the Prophet Muhammad to the present day, he describes the conflicts that raged over the succession to the Prophet, how Sunnism & Shi`ism evolved as different sects during the Abbasid caliphate, & how the rivalry between the empires of the Sunni Ottomans & Shi`i Safavids contrived to ensure that the split would continue into modern times. Now its full, destructive force has been brought out by the struggle between Saudi Arabia & Iran for the soul of the Muslim world. ...