As a civil war shatters a country & consumes its people, historian Christian Sahner offers a poignant account of Syria, where the past profoundly shapes its dreadful present. Among the Ruins blends history, memoir & reportage, drawing on the author`s extensive knowledge of Syria in ancient, medieval, & modern times, as well as his experiences living in the Levant on the eve of the war & in the midst of the ` Arab Spring`. These plotlines converge in a rich narrative of a country in constant flux -- a place renewed by the very shifts that, in the near term, are proving so destructive. Sahner focuses on five themes of interest to anyone intrigued & dismayed by Syria`s fragmentation since 2011: the role of Christianity in society; the arrival of Islam; the rise of sectarianism & competing minorities; the emergence of the Ba`ath Party; & the current pitiless civil war. Among the Ruins is a brisk & illuminating read, an accessible introduction to a country with an enormously rich past & a tragic present. For anyone seeking to understand Syria, this book should be their starting point. ...

Among the Russians is a marvellous account of Colin Thubron`s solitary journey by car from St Petersburg & the Baltic states, south to Georgia & Armenia. A gifted writer & intrepid traveller, Thubron grapples with the complexities of Russian identity & relays his extraordinary journey in characteristically lyrical style. This is an enthralling account of the habits & idiosyncrasies of a fascinating nation & also a sharp & insightful social commentary on Russian life. ...

As the summer draws to a close, a few snowbeds
- some as big as icebergs
- survive in the Scottish Highlands. Christopher Nicholson`s

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John Mc Gahern is widely considered to be one of Ireland`s greatest writers, with fans including John Updike, Hilary Mantel, Colm Toibin & John Banville. Often hailed as his greatest work, Amongst Women is a poignant novel of family & togetherness. Once an officer in the Irish War for Independence, Moran is now a widower, eking out a living on a small farm where he raises his two sons & three daughters. Adrift from the structure & security of the military, he keeps control by binding his family close to him. But as his children grow older & seek independence, & as the passing years bring with them bewildering change, Moran struggles to find a balance between love & tyranny. ”A masterpiece... It is the sort of book which you can give anyone of any age & know that they will be changed by it.” (Colm Toibin). ...

Tacos are little bites with big flavours: quick & simple to make, fun to share & popular the world over. Cocktails are also on the cutting edge of bold flavour combinations. Put them together & you have Amor Y Tacos, a new way to do Mexican. This new style of little tacos originated in Mexico & is taking off in taquerias across the world. In ” Amor Y Tacos”, traditional Mexican flavours & concepts are shaken up & recombined in dynamic, new combinations, simply presented to deliver the laid-back immediacy of street food. The 55 recipes of this title will include Fish Zarandeado (fish grilled with chiles & garlic, stuffed in a taco topped with creamy coleslaw, avocado & papaya picante) & Coca-Cola Shredded Beef Taco with Charred Tomatillo Salsa & Onions, to be served along with drinks like the Vampiro (spicy, citrus-spiked tomato juice, beer, & tequila) & the Chupacabra (fresh beet, orange, carrot & celery juice with a shot of mezcal). Experienced cooks & first-timers alike will find inspiration in these easy recipes that are just as well-suited for outdoor entertaining as they are for a quick weeknight dinner. ...

The island of Amorgos in the Cyclades on a light, waterproof & tear-resistant, contoured & GPS compatible map at 1:32, 000 from Anavasi. 16 recommended walks are accompanied by brief descriptions & the map also

Includes:: a street plan of Chora. Landscape is vividly presented by contours at 20m intervals with hill shading & spot heights. The map indicates dirt roads in poor condition with distances on most routes plus locations of petrol stations & car parks. Also marked are stops of the local bus service. Country paths distinguish between wide & well defined or narrow and/or poorly defined routes. Symbols highlight various facilities & places of interest including hotels, campsites, restaurants, beaches, historical remains, etc. All place names are in both Greek & Latin alphabets. The map has a 1km UTM grid plus latitude/longitude margin ticks & crosshairs at 1’. On the reverse is a separate, simplified map of the island designed to highlight 16 hiking trails which are accompanied by brief descriptions. Also provided here is a street plan of Chora showing locations of tavernas, cafes, etc. Map legend & all the text include English. To see which other Greek islands are covered by maps from Anavasi, please click on the series link.

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Amorgos on a light, waterproof & tear-resistant, contoured & GPS compatible map at 1:35, 000 from Terrain Editions with a street plan of the Hora of Amorgos at 1:3, 500, plus an enlargement at 1:15, 000 of the Eghiali/ Aegiali
- the island`s principal rock climbing area. On the reverse is information on climbing sites, plus descriptions of 14 specially selected hiking trails. All place names are shown in both Greek & Latin alphabet. Map legend & all the text include English. Maps of the Greek islands from Terrain Editions have topography well presented by contours at 20m intervals (unless indicated differently in the map`s individual description), enhanced by spot heights, subtle relief shading & additional altitude colouring. Road network is very clearly graded according to width & the type of surface, distinguishing between good & rough dirt roads. Distances are marked on most small local roads, as well as locations of petrol stations and/or tyre repair workshops; scenic routes are highlighted. Each map also shows which ports are served by ferry services. Hiking paths are graded as main or narrow trails. National parks & other protected areas are marked & a wide range of symbols indicate various places of interest & recreational facilities, with main sights clearly highlighted. Most titles distinguish between sandy & pebble beaches; some also indicate beaches with natural shade and/or the type of sea bed. The maps have a UTM grid, plus latitude & longitude margin ticks. The reverse side of each title is covered by general information about the isl&, illustrated with colour photos. Many titles also include brief descriptions of recommended hiking trails and/or a street plan of the island’s main town, with colouring clearly showing various tourist facilities. To see the other titles in this series please click on the series link.
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Amorgos, Naxos, Paros & Eastern & Northern Cyclades in the Walking the Greek Islands series from Dieter Graf describes the best & oldest walking trails. It

Includes:: detailed maps, exact times, GPS points & colour photographs of outstanding places
- & lots of information about the ”islands of light”. Olive groves, forsaken monasteries, the scent of thyme, sleepy villages, Byzantine chapels, secluded coves, there is much to be discovered on the Cyclades. Hiking & swimming for isl&-hoppers on the following islands:- Amorgos; Andros; Antiparos; Donoussa, Iraklia, Koufonisi, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Schinoussa, Syros, Tinos.


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Topographic survey of Catalonia at 1:25, 000 from the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya, an attractive alternative to Spain’s national topographic survey at this scale, offering a much larger area per sheet with extensive tourist information & vivid presentation of vegetation & land use. These large, detailed maps have contours at 10m intervals enhanced by hill shading & fine colouring and/or graphics to portray of vegetation or land use (different types of woodlands, marshl&, vineyards, crops, etc). An overprint highlights waymarked local & long-distance GR footpaths plus CT cycling routes. Also highlighted are picturesque locations such as villages, isolated buildings or natural features. A very wide range of symbols indicate various facilities, places of interest & recreational sites: tourist information centres, campsites & other rural accommodation, cultural heritage, vineries, wildlife observation areas, viewpoints & beauty spots, sites for recreational pursuits including horse riding, water sports, paragliding, etc The maps are divided by the publishers into three types: Administrative Units, Natural Protected Areas, & Geographical Areas, as shown on our grid for this series. Coverage by each sheet varies; most maps present an area of 30 x 23km (19 x 14km approx). The maps have a 1km UTM grid, with latitude & longitude values shown for the map corners. Excellently presented topographic map legend is in Catalan only but the legend for the tourist information & the road network

Includes:: English. To see the list of all the titles in this series please click on the series link.

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Ampthill in 1924 in a fascinating series of reproductions of old Ordnance Survey plans in the Alan Godfrey Editions, ideal for anyone interested in the history of their neighbourhood or family. The map of Ampthill covers the main area of the town around Bedford Street, Church Street, Woburn Street & Dunstable Street. Coverage

Includes:: Ampthill Park to the north of the map along with Russets Plantation & Laurel Wood. Features include St Andrews Church, Police Station, Brewery, Drill Hall, Friends Meeting House, Ampthill House, Coopers Hill & the Cinema. On the reverse is an extract from a commercial directory & a list of private residents About the Alan Godfrey Editions of the 25” OS Series: Selected towns in Great Britain & Ireland are covered by maps showing the extent of urban development in the last decades of the 19th & early 20th century. The plans have been taken from the Ordnance Survey mapping & reprinted at about 15 inches to one mile (1:4, 340). On the reverse most maps have historical notes & many also include extracts from contemporary directories. Most maps cover about one mile (1.6kms) north/south, one & a half miles (2.4kms) across; adjoining sheets can be combined to provide wider coverage.FOR MORE INFORMATION & A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL AVAILABLE TITLES PLEASE CLICK ON THE SERIES LINK.

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