Throughout the history of civilization, food has been more than simple necessity. In countless cultures, it has been livelihood, status symbol, entertainment
- & passion. In the Great Food series, Penguin brings you the finest food writing from the last 400 years, & opens the door to the wonders of every kitchen.
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Let acclaimed Tolkien artist John Howe take you on an unforgettable journey across Middle-earth, from Bag End to Mordor, in this richly illustrated sketchbook fully of previously unseen artwork, anecdotes & meditations on Middle-earth. Middle-earth has been mapped, Bilbo`s & Frodo`s journeys plotted & measured, but it remains a wilderland for all that. The roads as yet untravelled far outnumber those down which J.R.R. Tolkien led us in his writings. A Middle-earth Traveller presents a walking tour of Tolkien`s Middle-earth, visiting not only places central to his stories, but also those just over the hill or beyond the horizon. Events from Tolkien`s books are explored
- battles of the different ages that are almost legend by the time of The Lord of the Rings; lost kingdoms & ancient myths, as well as those places only hinted at: kingdoms of the far North & lands beyond the seas. Sketches that have an `on-the-spot` feel to them are interwoven with the artist`s observations gleaned from Tolkien`s books as he paints pictures with his words as well as his pencil. He also recollects his time spent working alongside Peter Jackson on the Lord of the Rings & Hobbit film trilogies. Combining concept work produced for films, existing Middle-earth art & dozens of new paintings & sketches exclusive to this book, A Middle-earth Traveller will take the reader on a unique & unforgettable journey across Tolkien`s magical landscape.
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A raucous, suspenseful, silly comedy starring jungle favourites Monkey, Zebra, Frog & Lion.. . & a bottom-biting bush baby! In this raucous jungle caper illustrated by Dinosaurs Don`t Have Bedtimes` Nikki Dyson, something MIGHTY with SUPER-DUPER sharp teeth keeps biting Frog, Monkey & Zebra.. . right on their bottoms! ” Ya-hoooooo!” So, guarding their beautiful behinds, the trio run as fast as they can through the jungle. They`re looking for big, brave King Lion, who just might know what to do... Delicious drama builds before the bottom-biting creature`s identity is finally revealed in this hilarious tale brought brilliantly to life by the read-aloud sound effects of Ronda Armitage & the exuberant, magnificent art of Nikki Dyson. ...

In this inspirational memoir, internationally bestselling author David Vann tells the true story of building his own sailing ship & of the disastrous voyage that ensues. As a thirty-year-old tourist in Turkey, David Vann stumbles across the steel frame of a ninety-foot sailboat & decides to fulfill a long-buried dream: he will rebuild the boat. From friends, family, & credit cards, he borrows $150, 000 to construct the ship & achieve his ambition. However, when the Turkish builders take shameless advantage of him, eventually charging him over $500, 000, Vann finds himself on the edge of financial ruin & decides to start a chartering business. Battling with construction nightmares, spiraling debts & freak storms, Vann begins to wonder if he is merely repeating his father`s failures at sea, & a career that led to tragedy. At once a page-turning memoir of adventure on the open ocean & a tale of one man`s attempt to overcome fate & realise his dream, A Mile Down is an unforgettable story of struggle & redemption by a writer of rare power. ...

In this inspirational memoir, internationally bestselling author David Vann tells the true story of building his own sailing ship & of the disastrous voyage that ensues. As a thirty-year-old tourist in Turkey, David Vann stumbles across the steel frame of a ninety-foot sailboat & decides to fulfill a long-buried dream: he will rebuild the boat. From friends, family, & credit cards, he borrows $150, 000 to construct the ship & achieve his ambition. However, when the Turkish builders take shameless advantage of him, eventually charging him over $500, 000, Vann finds himself on the edge of financial ruin & decides to start a chartering business. Battling with construction nightmares, spiraling debts & freak storms, Vann begins to wonder if he is merely repeating his father`s failures at sea, & a career that led to tragedy. At once a page-turning memoir of adventure on the open ocean & a tale of one man`s attempt to overcome fate & realise his dream, A Mile Down is an unforgettable story of struggle & redemption by a writer of rare power. ...

A Millimetre of Dust is the story of a journey from Cape Town to the Northern Cape & back to visit some world-class Stone Age archaeological sites. In the tradition of writers such as Barry Lopez, W.G. Sebald, Gary Snyder & Bruce Chatwin, this travel memoir combines extensive research with personal narrative to explore how a particular woman s experience raises questions that are political, ecological, & philosophical. The sense of deep time which places such as Wonderwerk Cave or Kathu Townlands evoke is presented amid contemporary concerns from the domestic immediacies of small children on a long trip to intense disquiet about the local impact of global climate change. As in many travellers tales, the protagonist leaves home, discovers unfamiliar territory, & returns with an altered view of her place in the world. At Wonderwerk Cave the duration of a human life measures just one millimetre of dust in the deep, long accumulation of sediment, yet each breath we take is a link to those who came before us, & to all beings. ...

In April 2006 a small British peace-keeping force was sent to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan. Within weeks they were cut off & besieged by some of the world`s toughest fighters: the infamous Taliban, who were determined to send the foreigners home again. Defence Secretary John Reid had hoped that Operation Herrick 4 could be accomplished without a shot being fired; instead, the Army was drawn into the fiercest fighting it had seen for fifty years. Millions of bullets & thousands of lives have been expended since then in an under-publicized but bitter conflict whose end is still not in sight. Some people consider it the fourth Anglo-Afghan War since Victorian times. How on earth did this happen? & what is it like for the troops on the front line of the ` War on Terror`? James Fergusson takes us to the dark heart of the battle zone. Here, in their own words & for the first time, are the young veterans of Herrick 4. Here, unmasked, are the civilian & military officials responsible for planning & executing the operation. Here, too, are the Taliban themselves, to whom Fergusson gained unique & extraordinary access. Controversial, fascinating & occasionally downright terrifying, ”A Million Bullets” analyses the sorry slide into war in Helmand & asks this most troubling question: could Britain perhaps have avoided the violence altogether? ...

` We are all frazzled, all of us...` Five hundred years ago no one died of stress: we invented this concept & now we let it rule us. Ruby Wax shows us how to de-frazzle for good by making simple changes that give us time to breathe, reflect & live in the moment. Let Ruby be your guide to a healthier, happier you. You`ve nothing to lose but your stress... ...

Enter an incredible world of magical beasts, dare to draw near to their captivating powers, & discover the spellbinding stories of 16 favourite mythical creatures from around the world. Venture into this world & you`ll discover why griffins collect a gem called agate, how to put out dragon fire, how mischievous elves can cause terrible nightmares, & much, much more. A Miscellany of Magical Beasts is a beautiful, luxurious gift book showcasing a fascinating menagerie of creatures from the world`s timeless mythologies & legends. Presented in an incredible package with spectacular cover finishes, it is sure to be treasured by fantasy enthusiasts. Each beast is beautifully illustrated with rich, enchanting artworks, accompanied by amazing facts. Five feature spreads take a different approach to each particular beast
- including a gleaming guide to the world`s dragons & an enchanting introduction to elf spells & tricks. Imaginative flourishes such as cutaways showing constellations (see where Pegasus`s story ends), & a die-cut linking the lustrous feathers of the phoenix with those of the terrifying harpies, make this a truly inspiring exploration of some wonderfully strange creatures. List of beasts included: phoenix, harpy, griffin, Pegasus, dragons, elves, unicorn, centaur, mermaids & mermen, werewolf, troll, sphinx, basilisk, Cerberus, giant, chimera
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Master the art of mixology with these easy infographic cocktail recipes. Preparing a first-class cocktail relies upon understanding the ingredients & the complex alchemy of how they work together. In this book, each beautifully designed infographic presents the measurements in easy-to-see glass proportions & instructs on which garnish & type of glass should be used for each drink. From coolers & coladas to slings, sours & screws, this book

Includes:: over 200 recipes for both old favourites & modern inventions. An informative introduction gives details on equipment needed, glassware, bar stocking & the basic techniques to get you started. Whether you like Gin, Tequila, Rum, Vodka, Champagne or Whisky, this book is a must-have for any cocktail drinker.

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